10 killed in rain-related incidents in 48 hours

Dehradun, August 31

Heavy rain continue to pound the hill regions in Uttarakhand, leading to the death of 10 persons in the last 48 hours. A 20-metre stretch on the Kedarnath highway, near Gaurikund, has caved in disrupting vehicular movement, an official informed. Traffic has also been halted near Lambagad on the busy Badrinath highway due to the falling of debris triggered by a landslide.

A 54-year-old man, identified as Mohan, died after being struck by lightening at Ratgaon in Chamoli district. A cattle yard was flattened by lightening, killing many cattle. Nine houses have been damaged due to heavy rain in Bageshwar. Haridwar also continues to witness heavy rain.

Meanwhile, the Met office on Friday sounded an alert for heavy rain in most parts of Uttarakhand in the next three days, officials said.

Heavy to very heavy rain had been predicted for Dehradun, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Paudi, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar, after which district authorities and disaster management teams have been alerted.

Officials had been asked to step up vigil in low-lying areas, river banks and in landslide-prone regions, an official said.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been put on high alert. Mussourie is also likely to receive heavy rain in the next 24 hours.— IANS