Uttarakhand: Cloudbursts Kill Four, Swollen Rivers Wash Away Bridges; SDRF Deployed | Key Updates

At least four people lost their lives while 10 went missing after a series of cloudbursts hit different parts of Uttarakhand early on Saturday and caused rivers to breach their banks which washed away bridges, officials said. Torrential rains damaged two houses in Gwad village in Tehri district trapping seven people under the debris. Two bodies have been recovered from under the rubble, Tehri District Magistrate Saurabh Gaharwar said. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took stock of the situation unfolding in the state amid heavy rains and also enquired about the ongoing relief work in affected areas.

“The administration is fully alert. Disaster relief teams are already at work in the affected areas. The Army’s help may also be taken if needed,” Dhami said.

Here are key updates on the Uttarakhand cloudburst incidents:

• The cloudburst occurred around 2.15 am. A bridge over the Song river was washed away and the Kempty Falls, a popular tourist spot near Mussoorie, was flowing dangerously, the officials said.

• The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was rushed to the spot after the information and all the people stuck in the village are being rescued while some took shelter in a nearby resort.

• Due to the continuous rains since Friday, the Tamasa River flowing near Tapkeshwar Mahadev temple in Dehradun was in spate. But, there has been no loss of life or property, said Acharya Bipin Joshi, the founder of the temple.

• In Kothar village, an elderly woman suffocated to death after getting trapped underneath rubble brought in by the rains, he said. In Binak village of Pauri district, a house collapsed burying 70-year-old Darshani Devi alive. Her body was recovered by villagers, the disaster control room said.

• The affected villages include Maldevta, Bhutsi, Tauliyakatal, Thatyud, Lavarkha, Ringalgadh, Dhuttu, Ragad Gaon and Sarkhet, according to the officials. River Ganga is flowing close to the danger mark in Haridwar and Rishikesh.

• The Raipur-Kumalda motor road has been blocked due to debris at a number of places, he said. The Rishikesh-Badrinath highway is blocked at Totaghati, the Rishikesh-Gangotri highway is blocked at Nagni, and the Narendranagar-Ranipokhri motor road is blocked at several points, Chauhan said.

Meanwhile, heavy rains were also reported in Katra town in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir where the Vaishno Devi Yatra was temporarily suspended on Friday evening due the flash floods in the region.

Anshul Garg, the Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, said the situation was under control and there were no report of any casualty or damage. Videos shared on social media show a flood-like situation on the Vaishno Devi track.

(with inputs from PTI)

Read the Latest News and Breaking News here