Tragic Landslide on Kedarnath Highway Claims Lives in Uttarakhand

RUDRAPRAYAG, Uttarakhand, Sep 1 (PTI) A tragic landslide on the Kedarnath national highway resulted in the loss of two lives and left six individuals injured on Monday morning, according to official reports.

The incident occurred at 7:34 a.m. near Munkatiya, situated between Sonprayag and Gaurikund. Debris including rocks and boulders cascaded from the hillside at Munkatiya, directly hitting a passing vehicle. Two passengers were instantly killed, reported Nandan Singh Rajwar, the Disaster Management Officer for Rudraprayag district.

Six other passengers in the vehicle suffered injuries, with two in critical condition. The injured were promptly transported to a government hospital in Sonprayag. Subsequently, the two critically injured individuals were referred to a higher medical center, Rajwar added.

The deceased have been identified as Rita, aged 30, and Chandra Singh, aged 68, both hailing from Barkot in Uttarkashi district. The injured individuals have been identified as Mohit Chauhan, Naveen Singh Rawat, Pratibha, Mamata, Rajeshwari, and Pankaj, who are also residents of Uttarkashi district.

Extreme rainfall in Uttarakhand has been leading to frequent casualties. Two persons succumbed in separate rain-related accidents in Tehri and Pithoragarh districts on the preceding Sunday.

The state witnessed a significant calamity on August 29, when heavy rains and a succession of cloudbursts resulted in six fatalities and the disappearance of eleven individuals across various districts. The ensuing landslides damaged residences and left many under debris.

The districts of Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri, and Bageshwar experienced severe impacts from the natural events on Friday. This follows the Tharali catastrophe on August 23, which claimed one life and left another individual missing.

Uttarakhand faces relentless natural calamities this monsoon season. Prior to the Tharali incident in Chamoli district, the state endured massive destruction on August 5, when a flash flood in the Kheer Ganga River obliterated nearly half of Dharali, a vital waypoint on the Gangotri route dotted with accommodations.

An army camp in the adjacent Harsil area was impacted by flash floods as well. Sixty-nine persons remain untraceable following this disaster.

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