Two killed as monsoon fury persists in U’khand
MUSSOORIE: Two people were found dead under the debris after a house collapsed due to land subsidence triggered by heavy rains in Tehri district on Saturday, officials said.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Dehradun has issued an orange alert, predicting heavy rains, thunderstorms, and intense spells rainfall across all 13 districts for the next four days.
According to officials, the deceased in Tehri have been identified as a 40-year-old woman, Sarita Devi, and her 15-year-old daughter Ankita.
Manikant Mishra, SDRF commandant said, “Our team led by head constable Kuldeep Singh rushed to the spot and recovered the bodies.”
In Rudraprayag district, overnight rains led to the rise in water level of the Son River, washing away a portion of a road on Sonprayag-Gaurikund shuttle service parking area early Saturday morning. District administration teams blocked the road, rescuing 2,500 pilgrims stranded on both sides.
Anil Kumar Shukla, SDM Ukhimath, said that heavy rains also damaged a portion of the road near the Kedarnath Yatra route, disrupting vehicular movement. He directed the use of JCB machines to remove debris and damaged electricity poles. “The district administration, in coordination with other agencies, has cut out a route for light vehicles, and efforts are underway to restore heavy vehicle movement. Pilgrims stranded on the Yatra route have been rescued,” he said.
Saurabh Gherwar, district magistrate of Rudraprayag, advised pilgrims heading to Kedarnath Dham to check the meteorological department’s alerts and avoid travelling during heavy rain.
In Uttarkashi district, the road to Shivanand Ashram in Gangotri was damaged due to a rise in the Bhagirathi River’s water level early Saturday. Suresh Semwal, secretary of the Gangotri Temple Committee, called for the construction of safety barriers to prevent water from entering the shrine area and potentially causing widespread damage.