Dehradun:
At least 30 people were killed and at least 40 people were reported missing after a cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag and Bageshwar district wreaked havoc today.
While 22 people were killed in Rudraprayag district, eight more deaths were reported in Kapkot near Almorah in Bageshwar district. Several people are feared trapped under the debris.
"22 bodies have been recovered so far and 40 persons are still missing," a Disaster Management and Mitigation Department (DMMD) official said. 120 Army and Indo Tibetan Border Poilice (ITBP) personnel were deployed for rescue operations and a private chopper has been kept on the standby for evacuation if needed, he said.
"As the disaster struck the region, authorities launched rescue and relief operations with the help of the army and ITBP personnel," Rudraprayag District Magistrate Neeraj Kherwal said.
According to officials, incessant rains since yesterday followed by a cloudburst in the early hours today have left a trail of destruction in Timada, Sansari, Giriya, Chunni and Mangali villages in the district. River Saryu and Kaliganga are flowing above danger mark following rains since last night. Rishikesh-Badrinath and Rishikesh-Gangotri highways have been closed due to landslips triggered by incessant rains.
Communication and power lines are disrupted and traffic along several roads including national highways in the area is affected, officials said.
Expressing shock over the tragedy, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna asked the District Magistrate to take up relief and rescue operations on a war footing in the affected area and sanctioned Rs 10 crore for the purpose.
(With inputs from PTI)