New Delhi: Landslides triggered by heavy rains in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have blocked major highways and rescue operations have been intensified to search for survivors. At least 23 people have died in cloudburst incidents in the two Himalayan states.
Of these, 15 are in Uttarakhand and eight in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh. More rain is expected in both states in the next few days.
Rescuers have deployed drones in Himachal Pradesh to reach areas cut off by landslides and debris following a cloudburst on Thursday. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has deployed Chinook and MI17 helicopters to rescue 800 pilgrims stranded on the rain-ravaged trek route to Kedarnath. These pilgrims may be evacuated today if the weather remains favourable.
condition of Himachal Pradesh
Three bodies were recovered in Himachal Pradesh, taking the total death toll to eight. The cloudburst caused flash floods in Nirmand, Sainj and Malana areas of Kullu, Padhar in Mandi and Rampur subdivision of Shimla. Rescue workers are racing against time to find 45 people missing after the cloudburst.
According to the State Emergency Operations Centre, 103 houses were fully or partially damaged in the three districts in the past 36 hours, besides six motorable and 32 pedestrian bridges, shops, schools and vehicles. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu announced an immediate relief of Rs 50,000 for the victims and also said they would be given Rs 5,000 per month for rent for the next three months, along with gas, food and other essential items.
The Chandigarh-Manali national highway has been closed at three places since last night after landslides at three places between Mandi and Pandoh. The road blockage has led to a traffic jam on the highway. Small vehicles have been diverted to an alternate road via Kataula and Gohar. National Highway 5 (Rampur-Kinnaur) has also been blocked at Nigulsari and National Highway 305 connecting Luhari-Banjar and Kullu is also blocked due to landslides.
The situation in Uttarakhand
On the other hand, 15 people have died due to cloudburst in Kedarnath, Tehri, Chamoli, Dehradun and Haridwar districts in Uttarakhand. So far, 7,234 pilgrims have been rescued from Kedarnath, whose journey was postponed due to cloudburst. Kedarnath rescue operation is going to resume today as soon as the weather improves, the aim of which is to evacuate all the stranded pilgrims. More than 800 pilgrims stranded in Kedarnath are to be rescued by air and manually today.
Chinook and MI17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force have been pressed into service and officials of the NDRF, SDRF and Uttarakhand police are actively involved in rescuing pilgrims and searching for the missing people. According to officials, food and water have been supplied to the stranded pilgrims, who are safe in relief camps at Kedarnath, Bhimbali and Gaurikund posts.
The death toll rose to 15 after a man drowned in a swollen river in Dehradun on Friday and another body was recovered from Rudraprayag last evening. More than 300 roads, including a national highway, have been closed since July 31. Efforts are on to open the blocked routes, 191 roads are still closed. A massive operation is being carried out with the help of 340 JCB and Pocland machines to restore links and ensure connectivity.