Uttarakhand: Three of family die after house collapses due to rain-triggered landslide

BAGESHWAR: A man, his wife and their seven-year-old son died after their house collapsed due to a landslide, triggered by heavy rainfall, in the Kapkot tehsil of Bageshwar district.
The elder son of the couple — 10-years old — somehow saved his life by running away from the house. He has sustained minor injuries.
The incident took place around 2.30am on Sunday when the victims were sleeping. The local administration was informed of the house collapse at 6.15am.
Soon after, a police team and officials from the local administration reached the spot and launched a search and rescue operation.
The victims were identified as Govind Singh Panda (40), his wife Khashti Devi (35), and their son Himanshu (7).
Shikha Suyal, district disaster management officer, Bageshwar, told TOI that all three bodies were recovered by 12 noon. “A cow tied in the cowshed behind the house also died in the incident. The other two cows in the cowshed were saved by us,” said Suyal. The official added that vehicular movement on several roads in Kapkot was suspended due to the rain damage.
According to the data from the meteorological centre, Kapkot recorded the maximum of 45 mm rainfall in the district on Sunday, followed by 15 mm rainfall in Bageshwar and Garud towns.
(By Pramod Dalakoti)