Entry of heavy vehicles was halted on the Kedarnath highway after a landslide at Gangolgaon.
Highlights
- 4 bodies were recovered from Chamoli, 5 from Didihat area
- Several houses in Chamoli washed away in floods, more rain predicted
- Many highways cut-off, Alaknanda river flowing over danger mark
At least 10 people have died and many are missing after cloudburst and landslides triggered by heavy rain in Uttarakhand, an official said.
In Pithoragarh, six including 3 children have lost their life while many are feared missing in Didihaat where 10 houses caved in due to heavy rain and mudslide late last night. Four people were washed away in flash floods in Chamoli district early this morning.
"There is no connectivity in the area, the information we have got from a local there is that the situation is very grim. Disaster response teams have left from Almora and Dharchula to assist in relief and rescue in the region,' said a senior cop overviewing the rescue operations.
Chief Minister Harish Rawat said he was "personally monitoring the situation" and also announced a compensation of Rs two lakh each to families of victims.
"The Army has been called in to assist in relief and rescue operations," Mr Rawat said.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) teams have been rushed to the affected areas. Additional NDRF teams are also put on alert, he added.
The Met department had issued a 72-hour warning from late last night for incessant rainfall in the region including 7 hill-districts of Garhwal and Kumaon Region.
The administration is working on war-footing to clear landslides and road blocks. Emergency ration has been stored in large quantities at district headquarters.
In June 2013, nearly 6,000 pilgrims, tourists and others were killed by floods and landslides in the state, destroying hundreds of villages and towns.