3 dead as landslide hits Kedarnath Yatra route amid heavy rain, 16 still missing
Heavy rains caused flashfloods and triggered a landslide near Gaurikund on the Kedarnath Yatra route in Uttarakhand on Thursday night. Nearly 19 people were reported missing, while several shops were washed away in the area.
As many as three bodies were recovered after a landslide hit the Kedarnath Yatra route in Uttarakhand amid heavy rains on Thursday night. However, 16 people still remain missing.
Several shops were also washed away near the Gaurikund area.
According to an official, relief and rescue operations were underway by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
Heavy rains coupled with boulders falling intermittently from the hillsides were hampering relief and rescue efforts, Circle Officer Vimal Rawat told PTI.
Information regarding the missing people, including some from Nepal, was being gathered, he said.
Some of those missing were identified as Vinod (26), Mulayam (25), Ashu (23), Priyanshu Chamola (18), Ranbir Singh (28), Amar Bohra, his wife Anita Bohra, their daughters, Radhika Bohra and Pinki Bohra, and sons Prithvi Bohra (7), Jatil (6) and Vakil (3), officials said.
UTTARAKHAND WEATHER ALERT
Meanwhile, an orange alert was sounded in Pauri, Tehri, Rudraparayag and Dehradun as the weather department warned of heavy rains on Friday.
A yellow alert (signifying medium-intensity rainfall) was issued for Chamoli, Nainital, Champawat, Almora and Bageshwar.