Heavy rains in Uttarakhand, official swept away by rising river

Dehradun: Efforts are on to trace SDM Ajay Arora, who was swept away by the swirling waters of Mandakini in Uttarakhand while supervising debris cleaning and relief operations in Kedar valley. Several parts of the state experienced intermittent rains today.

Almora sub-divisional magistrate Ajay Arora deputed to oversee relief operations in Kedar valley slipped off a makeshift bridge over Mandakini and fell into the river which was in spate following heavy rains in Rudraprayag district yesterday.

He was returning from Kedarnath to Garurchatti base camp when the mishap occurred. Official sources here said the river is still being combed to trace the official.

Moderate to heavy rains are continuing intermittently at all the places in Uttarakhand, State Disaster Management and Mitigation Centre said.

Intermittent rains continued in Dehradun too with the state capital receiving 91.8 mm of showers in the last 24 hours.

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With the MeT department predicting similar weather conditions over the next few days, administration in all the districts has been asked to remain vigilant, official sources said.

National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and police personnel are combing the swollen river in search of the official, Rudraprayag's District Disaster Management Officer Meera Kaintura said.

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Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has expressed grief over the mishap and asked the family members of the official to maintain fortitude.

He has also asked officials engaged in relief operations in Kedar valley to go about their work carefully in the difficult terrain.

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