Rivers in spate, rain fury kills 4 in Uttarakhand

Jotirmay Thapliyal

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 5

Four persons were killed in rain-related incidents in the state. The Rishikesh-Badrinath highway was also blocked in Chamoli district following a landslide, leaving a number of pilgrims stranded. The Tanakpur-Champawat and Rishikesh-Yamunotri highways continue to remain blocked for the past several days.

Three persons were killed when a vehicle fell into the Silgad river in the Duggada region of Pauri Garhwal district. The accident took place when the driver lost control over the vehicle after a boulder fell on it. 

In another accident, a kanwariya was killed while another was injured when a tree fell on their motorcycle in the Shivpuri region of Tehri Garhwal district. The injured has been admitted to the Rishikesh hospital. In yet another incident, two women were injured in a landslide-related incident at Sunali village in Tehsil Karanprayag. 

Meanwhile, most rivers in the state are in spate. The water of the Sushwa and Song rivers in Dehradun entered nearby villages. The district administration is making all efforts to plug the breaches. The water level in the Ganga in Haridwar has reached 292.55-m mark. 

  The Dehradun Met office has extended its heavy rain alert for the next 48 hours. It has also forecast heavy rain at isolated places, especially in Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri, Chamoli, Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar and Pithoragarh districts in the next 48 hours. An advisory has been issued to commuters and pilgrims moving to the hills and to those residing in low- lying areas of the plains to remain cautious.