Rain wreaks havoc in Uttarakhand; three, including a mother and son, die after being buried under debris in Pauri.
Dehradun. The monsoon continues to wreak havoc across Uttarakhand. Heavy rains have disrupted normal life from the hills to the plains. Continuous rainfall has led to incidents such as landslides, debris slides, and road blockages in several areas. A tragic incident occurred on Tuesday morning in the Satpuli area of Pauri district, where a mother, her son, and a two-year-old child lost their lives after being buried under debris sliding down from a hillside.
According to reports, the incident took place in Mahar village, located in the Dwarikhal block of the Satpuli area in Pauri district. Amidst heavy rain on Tuesday morning, debris suddenly slid down the hillside and crashed onto a house. The occupants inside were trapped under the debris. Panic and cries for help erupted in the village following the incident.
Locals immediately initiated relief and rescue operations. Villagers tried to remove the debris and pull out those trapped inside, but by then, the mother, her son, and the two-year-old child had already succumbed. The administration and police were informed, and a relief team subsequently arrived at the scene.
This tragedy has left the entire village shaken. A sense of fear now prevails among the villagers, who were already grappling with the challenges posed by the rain. An administrative team visited the site to assess the situation and assured the affected family of all possible assistance.
Meanwhile, another tragic incident linked to the rain occurred on the Kedarnath route, where a woman died after being struck by falling rocks from a hillside. Incidents of landslides and rockfalls are on the rise in hilly areas due to continuous rainfall. The administration has urged travelers and locals to remain vigilant.
Adverse weather conditions have also impacted air services. Seven flights bound for Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport had to be diverted due to heavy rain and poor weather. Disruptions in flight operations caused by the bad weather resulted in inconvenience for passengers.
The Meteorological Department has issued a warning for heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand today as well. According to the department, heavy rainfall is expected at various locations across nine districts of the state. The administration has instructed residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert.
In view of the rainfall, the state government and district administration are closely monitoring the situation. The Disaster Management Department has been placed on alert. SDRF and police teams have been deployed at several locations to ensure immediate relief and rescue operations can be launched if needed.
The risk of landslides and natural disasters increases annually during the monsoon season in the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand. Continuous rainfall weakens the terrain in these hilly areas, leading to issues such as debris slides and road closures.
The administration has urged people to avoid unnecessary travel during inclement weather. Travelers are advised to check weather and road conditions, especially when traversing mountain routes. Residents in vulnerable areas are also being advised to move to safer locations.
Meanwhile, special vigilance is being maintained along the Char Dham Yatra routes. Administrative teams are continuously assessing the situation to ensure the safety of pilgrims. Traffic has been disrupted in several places due to heavy rainfall.
With the monsoon remaining active in Uttarakhand, the spell of rain is likely to continue in the coming days. Consequently, the administration has appealed to the public to exercise caution and contact local authorities immediately in the event of an emergency.