Roorkee: Heavy rains caused severe flooding along the Kedarnath-Sonprayag-Gauri Kund route on Wednesday. Authorities evacuated markets and hotels in the affected areas as a precaution.
Mandakini river, which runs through Kedarnath and Sonprayag, has overflowed due to the intense rainfall, leading to flood-like conditions. The river’s water reached the Sonprayag parking area, creating chaos among pilgrims.
Cloudburst on Gaurikund-Kedarnath route
The situation worsened with a cloudburst along the Gaurikund-Kedarnath route, increasing water levels in Mandakini river even further. Buildings along the riverbanks have been cleared and the administration is monitoring the situation closely.
In response to the flood-like conditions, the yatra has been halted by the District Magistrate of Rudraprayag. SDRF personnel have been deployed to assist people along Mandakini Riverbanks and ensure their safety. Authorities have warned residents in Gaurikund to remain cautious.
Cloudburst in Tehri
A hotel was swept away following a cloudburst in Nautad Tok, Bhilangana block of Tehri, Uttarakhand. Two people died in the cloudburst. The District Disaster Management Officer, Brijesh Bhatt, said that the hotel owner, Bhanu Prasad, his wife, Neelam Devi, and their son, Vipin, went missing when the hotel was washed away. The bodies of Bhanu and Neelam have been found about 100 meters from the site, but Vipin is still missing.
Around 200 pilgrims, who were on the Chardham Yatra, are trapped due to the cloudburst. Rescue operations are underway to evacuate them. The sudden flood also displaced many animals. Fortunately, no other passengers were in the hotel at the time of the incident. The police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are working to find Vipin and ensure the safety of the trapped pilgrims.
House collapses in Roorkee
In a separate incident, a house collapsed in Bharatpur village near Roorkee due to heavy rainfall. The collapse trapped about 11 people under the debris. Two children, aged 10 and 8, died in the incident.
Emergency services and local villagers worked to rescue the trapped individuals. Five people were rescued in critical condition, while two others sustained minor injuries. The injured have been taken to local hospitals for treatment.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department IIMD) has issued red alert for several districts of Uttarakhand.
