18 missing after Tons river washes away 20 houses in Uttarakhand

As many as 18 people are missing after 20 houses were washed in floods triggered by overflowing of Tons river in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district on Sunday (August 18).

A cloudburst hit Uttarkashi’s Mori tehsil resulting in the Tons river overflowing beyond its danger limits and hitting markets and houses along its course.

“We have received information about people missing and a few being stranded. There are also a few houses that have been damaged in Makudi and Digoli due to heavy rains. Teams have been moved for rescue operations and evacuations,” Ashish Chauhan, Uttarkashi district magistrate, told ANI.

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The state government has sent teams of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for rescue operations.

According to ANI, the administration has issued high alert and people have been asked to move to safe places. On Saturday, people were forced to cross the Halara Khad river after the road was was blocked due to landslides.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced heavy rainfalls in certain parts of Uttarakhand, especially in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, Dehradun, Pauri and Nainital districts, in the next 24 hours.

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Pilgrims undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar trip had to face difficulties as landslips and heavy rains disrupted their trek, and had to be helped by the SDRF.

According to director of Uttarakhand Weather department Bikram Singh, heavy rains will continued to lash the state till August 19. Singh added that local residents and pilgrims should avoid travelling in the rain as there are many places which are highly sensitive to landslides.

(With inputs from agencies)