Dharchula cloudbursts death toll reaches 7

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 16

The death toll in the recent cloudbursts in Dharchula area of Pithoragarh district has risen to seven and 25 persons were reported missing after the two cloudbursts occurred on the intervening night of August 13 and 14.

A total of seven bodies have been recovered so far from Malpa area and Mangti Nullah area near Tawaghat, Director General of Police Anil Raturi said.

Five persons in Malpa and six in Mangti Nullah including a JCO and five army jawans are still missing for whom the rescue operations are continuing, he said.

Two other persons are also said to be missing in Mangti Nullah but it is not confirmed yet, the DGP said.

The Army, SDRF, SSB and state police personnel are engaged in the operations, Director General of Police Anil Raturi said.

Meanwhile, two helicopters have been pressed into service for rescue work in cloudburst affected Malpa and Ghatiabagad areas of Pithoragarh district.

The affected persons were shifted to safer places and food and other arrangements were made available to them. A total of 26 jawans of SSB and 10 jawans of the Army are working round the clock in rescue and relief operation at Malpa. Further, 30 jawans of State Disaster Response Force, 15 jawans of SSB, 14 jawans of the Army and two ITBP officers are conducting relief and rescue operations in Mangti.

Twenty two persons who were stranded at Gunji were rescued by helicopters. Relief material has been airlifted to the affected areas. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrims are also being rescued. The Baram bridge that was damaged in the cloudburst is also being repaired.

Kumaon Commissioner Chandrashekar Bhatt and Deputy Inspector General Ajay Rautela today visited the disaster affected areas of Pithoragarh district. (With PTI inputs)