At least 5000 Stranded In Uttarakhand, Rains Hamper Rescue Operations

At least 5000 people are said to be stranded in various areas of Uttarakhand after heavy rains and landslides continued to pound the state following a cloudburst at Pithoragarh and Chamoli districts on Friday.

The landslides caused heavy vehicular traffic with tourists being stranded at different junctions on both sides of the road even as rains continue to hamper rescue operations especially in Pithoragarh.

The administration however says that all the stranded people are safe and efforts are on to rescue them.

Chief Minister Harish Rawat chaired a meeting with senior officials on Sunday to review the rescue and relief operations.

NDRF, Assam Rifles, ITBP and SDRF have been deployed in Bastadi village in Pithoragarh which has been worst-hit by cloudburst.

While six people have been reported missing in Chamoli, the officials have pulled out at least five bodies from Pittoragarh.

While the Rishikesh-Badrinath NH-58 was blocked due to landslide and is being cleared in Joshimath, the Gangotri highway has also been shut for maintenance.

The water level in many major rivers in Uttarakhand is way above the danger mark.

At least 15 big and small roads are closed in Chamoli and Pithoragarh and 400 connecting roads are closed across the state.