Amid relentless monsoon rain, Uttarakhand battles flash floods, landslides and rising river levels. Two IAF personnel drowned in Bhimtal as the state reports widespread damage and disruptions to the Char Dham Yatra.
Heavy rains claimed the lives of two Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel in Uttarakhand’s Bhimtal on Friday. The victims, Prince Yadav (22) from Pathankot and Sahil Kumar (23) from Muzaffarpur were vacationing with six other IAF members, including four women, in Nainital when tragedy struck.
According to Circle Officer Pramod Shah, both men drowned after getting trapped in the overflowing lake. Residents and police joined in a rescue operation that lasted nearly an hour to recover their bodies.
Char Dham Yatra Faces Major Disruptions
The continuous rainfall has brought the Char Dham Yatra to a near standstill. More than 109 roads, including highways leading to Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Badrinath, are blocked due to landslides and debris.
- Kedarnath road is blocked between Sonprayag and Gaurikund.
- Yamunotri Highway has remained inaccessible for five days since a landslide at Silai bend washed away 12 meters of road and buried the shelters of construction workers, leaving nine people missing.
- Badrinath Highway is blocked at multiple points due to falling boulders.
Rivers Near Danger Mark; Villages on Alert
Most rivers, including the Ganga in Haridwar, Alaknanda, Bhagirathi, Nandakini, and Pindar, are in spate and flowing just below the danger mark. In Chamoli, the Alaknanda River is surging from Badrinath to Rudraprayag, while the Mandakini River continues to rise, submerging nearby riverbanks.
In Uttarkashi, the overflowing Yamuna has formed a lake, Syanachatti, flooding houses and hotels. Authorities have deployed an excavator to clear silt and reduce water levels.
Several villages in Geeth (Uttarkashi) are facing a shortage of food grains due to prolonged highway closures. Social worker Mahavir Panwar Mahi urged the government to ensure the delivery of essential supplies before the crisis worsens.
In Dehradun, city life is disrupted due to waterlogging at Prince Chawk and Doon Hospital, with blocked drains and overflowing sewers troubling commuters and schoolchildren.
Government Responds: Relief Operations in Full Swing
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to assess the worsening conditions. Shah assured that NDRF and ITBP teams are deployed swiftly to aid in disaster response and ensure that Char Dham pilgrims are not left stranded.
CM Dhami posted on X, confirming the centre’s support and promising faster road clearances and improved relief efforts.
