Landslide debris in Uttarakhand kills five Kedarnath pilgrims after car accident. Latest news in India.

Five Pilgrims Killed in Landslide on Kedarnath Highway

Summary:

• At least five pilgrims, including three from Gujarat, were killed in a landslide on the Kedarnath highway in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district.
• The landslide occurred at Tarsali near Phata, washing away a 60-meter stretch of the road.
• The victims were traveling in a car to the holy shrine of Kedarnath when it was hit by stones and boulders falling from the mountain.
• The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) launched a rescue operation, but bad weather initially hindered the efforts.
• The bodies were recovered when the weather cleared.
• The deceased have been identified as three individuals from Gujarat and two individuals from Haridwar.
• Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inspected the rain-hit Kotdwar area, where a man went missing in a landslide and several bridges were damaged.
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an “orange” alert for heavy rain in six districts and a “red” alert for the next three days in Uttarakhand.
• So far, 58 people have been killed, 37 injured, and 19 others remain missing in various incidents during this monsoon season.

Details:

At least five pilgrims, including three from Gujarat, were killed after a car they were traveling in was crushed under debris from a landslide on the Kedarnath highway in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district. The landslide occurred at Tarsali near Phata, washing away a 60-meter stretch of the road. The devotees were on their way to the holy shrine of Kedarnath when their car was hit by a mass of stones and boulders falling from the mountain between Phata and Sonprayag.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) immediately launched a rescue operation, but heavy rainfall initially hindered their efforts. The bodies of the victims were finally recovered when the weather cleared. The deceased individuals have been identified as Jigar R Modi, Mahesh Desai, and Parik Divyansh from Gujarat, as well as Mintu Kumar and Manish Kumar from Haridwar.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the rain-hit Kotdwar area, where a man had gone missing in a landslide and several bridges were damaged, cutting off a large population from the rest of the state. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued an “orange” alert for heavy rain in six districts and a “red” alert for the next three days in Uttarakhand due to the incessant rainfall.

According to data from the State Emergency Operation Center, this monsoon season has claimed the lives of 58 people and left 37 injured, with 19 individuals still missing in various incidents. The authorities continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure the safety of residents and pilgrims in the affected areas.

Sources:

• Uttarakhand rain: IMD issues ‘red’ alert, warns of landslides and waterlogging. Details
• Two killed, red alert issued for seven districts in Uttarakhand
• Uttarakhand rain: Wall collapses in Rishikesh; waterlogging in Dhalwala, Khara