Bad weather continues in Uttarakhand, three people die in landslides, wall collapse

Three persons have been killed in landslides and a wall collapse in flood-hit Uttarakhand, where inclement weather on Monday forced Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna to postpone his visit to review relief operations in Chamoli district.

Relief work, which was hampered by bad weather, resumed in the course of the day with the rains giving a pause.

Reconstruction of damaged roads in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Pithoragarh districts were also on, officials said.

Rains claimed three lives, including that of a policeman and a child, in the state during past 24 hours in Uttarkashi, Dehradun and Pithoragarh districts.

22-year-old police constable Gambhir Singh, on duty in Bhatwari area of Uttarkashi district, was killed yesterday after a boulder rolling down a hill hit him. He died while being flown to Dehradun for treatment.

In Sahaspur area of Uttarkashi, a 6-year-old boy was killed and two others were injured in a wall collapse last evening.

In another rain-related incident, a 28-year-old woman was killed in Samkot village of Pithoragarh after being hit by a huge rock that rolled down from a nearby hill.

With the inclement weather continuing, Chief Minister Bahuguna's chopper could not take off for his scheduled visit to Joshimath and Deval Areas of Chamoli for reviewing ongoing relief operations.

MeT department capital Dehradun has received 64.4 mm of rains since yesterday. Meanwhile, the administration has fast-tracked the process of sending specified equipment to worst-hit Kedarnath region for clearing the heap of debris lying there.

Relief Commissioner BVRC Purushottam visited Kedar Valley to explore the possibility of transporting by air from Guptkashi, heavy stone-cutting equipment needed to clear the debris at the 8th century Himalayan shrine.

Bulldozers and rock breakers for clearing debris in Kedarnath have been stuck at Guptkashi for nearly two days due to bad weather, compounding problems of the administration which is racing against time to complete the job before the onset of winter.

The winter season may stall the exercise till April-May next year as the region receives heavy snowfall during this period.