Dehradun: At least ten people have lost their lives after severe rains in Uttarakhand destroyed a concrete bridge and a footbridge on the Kedarnath path. The torrential rain, which caused landslides, flooding, and widespread devastation throughout the state, led to the temporary halt of the renowned Char Dham Yatra. According to a report by Jagran, the most affected areas in the state are the Jakhanyali, Ghansali, and Tehri Garhwal districts.
"All Char Dham paths are open; only the Kedarnath pathway has been blocked. One hundred more routes are clogged; efforts are ongoing to open them," the State Disaster Secretary stated. Rescue operations are underway. On Thursday morning, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met with authorities at the State Emergency Operation Centre to assess the status of rescue and relief activities in the districts affected by the downpour. During the assessment meeting, CM Dhami stated that rescue teams had been active throughout the night, transferring people to safer regions after the heavy rain.
“We received information about the disruption of life in many areas across the state. Consequently, rescue teams worked through the night to move people to safer locations,” CM Dhami said. He also stated that he is in constant contact with local authorities and instructed the NDRF and SDRF teams to stay on high alert.
“All officers should keep in mind that whatever funds are required for evacuating people from sensitive areas to safe places, relief and rescue operations, reconstruction and rehabilitation from a security point of view, will be sanctioned by the government immediately. The safety of the people of the state is our priority and every possible effort will be made for this,” he said on social media platform X.
With heavy rainfall expected across the state, the Uttarakhand government has issued safety advice for Char Dham Yatra pilgrims, urging them to postpone their treks until the weather improves. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rain alert in Uttarakhand for the next five days. A red alert has also been issued in connection with a cloudburst incident near Kedarnath.
Earlier, two individuals were found dead and another injured after going missing following a cloudburst in Jakhanyali, Ghansali, Tehri Garhwal district. The deceased were identified as Bhanu Prasad, 50, and Anita Devi, 45. Following severe rainfall in the state, the water level of the Ganga at Rishikesh rose to 20 meters above the warning line. The police squad has also notified locals in the Ganga’s adjacent coastal areas, including the Triveni Ghat. At 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, the Ganga water level in Rishikesh had reached 339.70 meters.
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