Rain havoc: Three dead, two hurt in landslides in last 24 hours

At least three people were killed and two injured in separate incidents of landslides caused by heavy rain in the state in last 24 hours.

In Raiwala locality of Dehradun, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rescued a pregnant woman and a sick girl, who were stranded in their houses due to heavy rain and overflowing water from Song river.

According to the SDRF officials, three people travelling in a car in Dugadda town of Pauri Garhwal district were killed when heavy boulders rolled down the hills crushing their car. SDRF team rushed to the spot and took them to a nearby hospital where they were declared brought dead, the officials said.

In another incident, two women were injured at Sunali village in Chamoli district on Sunday. The women were sleeping in their house near a cowshed when a heavy boulder that came rolling down in the downpour hit the duo. The were rushed to a hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment. The boulder crashed the cowshed and killed three cows.

Earlier in the day, SDRF team rescued a pregnant woman and a girl suffering from jaundice from their houses at Gauri Mafii village in Raiwala area of Dehradun district. They were stranded due to the heavy showers and overflowing water of the nearby Song river. SDRF personnel evacuated at least 20 more people from their houses in the same village. An SDRF team has been deployed in the village along with four earth-moving machines to relieve the area of excess rain water.

Speaking on the emergency situations, in-charge, State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), Rahul Jugran said strict monitoring is being done in the state. “SDRF teams have been responding to emergency calls. So far, rivers in the state are not flowing at a mark above normal, but if need be, authorities will immediately evacuate areas in the rivers’ vicinity,” he said.

Forecast of heavy rainfall in eight districts

The Dehradun meteorological centre of India Meteorological Department in its weather forecast on Sunday issued alert for heavy to very heavy rain in at least eight districts of the state in the next 48 hours.

The districts comprise Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal, Chamoli, Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar and Pithoragarh. Amid forecast of heavy rainfall, it has also issued an advisory to residents and commuters in hill areas to be cautious and contact the nearest administrative body in case of any emergency situation.

Kanwariya saved from drowning

A Kanwariya was saved from drowning at Kangda ghat near Har-Ki-Pauri by State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) divers.

According to the information form mela control room, Shiv Kumar (27), son of Preetam, resident of Saudra in Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh, was trying to cross the river stretch when his leg got entangled in an old Kanwar. Losing control, he fell into the river and started drowning. Nearby Kanwariyas raised an alarm and SDRF personnel immediately dived into the river and saved him. After medical check-up, Shiv Kumar was handed over to his relative Kanwariyas.

This is the second such incident in last three days at Kangda ghat. Mela administration has deployed additional personnel at the ghat owing to heavy influx of Kanwariyas. Since commencement of the Kanwar fair on July 28, so far, 44 Kanwariyas have been saved by the mela force personnel from drowning.

First Published: Aug 05, 2018 23:44 IST