Heavy rain triggered a landslide in Uttarakhand’s Tehri district on Saturday, washing away multiple houses and shops. A 42-year-old woman and her teenage daughter were buried under the debris.
Rescuers pulled out the bodies of Sarita Devi and 15-year-old Ankita from under the debris in Toli village, officials said. District Magistrate (DM) Mayur Dikshit said that a retaining wall behind their house collapsed and they were buried under debris.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed officials to remain on high alert and also to provide immediate assistance to those affected by the landslide.
“Sad news has been received about the casualties due to a landslide in Toli village near Budhakedar in Tehri district. The district administration has been instructed to provide immediate help to the affected people and take them to a safe place,” the Chief Minister wrote on X.
Several shops in Budhakedar were washed away by the swollen Dharmganga river, and the landslide and floodwater also damaged several bridges. People living close to the river have been shifted to safer locations, officials said.
According to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), the Chief Minister has directed all the District Magistrates of the state to remain on alert mode at all times while coordinating with SDRF, NDRF, and other rescue teams.
Pushkar Dhami appealed to the people in the state to remain indoors and step out only if necessary in the wake of the India Meteorological Department (IMD)’s heavy rain alert at many places.
Heavy showers for the past two days in different places in Budhakedar and a cloudburst in Toli and Bhigun villages have caused extensive damage. The downpour damaged many roads and communication infrastructure in several places, affecting locals and several tourists, including those heading to and coming from Kedarnath.
On Friday, more than a hundred tourists were evacuated to safety after they got stranded following heavy rainfall in the Gondar region on the trek route to the Madmaheshwar temple when a swollen river washed away a pedestrian bridge.
