Uttarakhand rain Update: Uttarakhand has been grappling with heavy rainfall for over past two days, with the hill districts, particularly Tehri, have borne the brunt of the downpour, with reports of extensive damage and loss of life. In the villages of Toli and Tingarh in the Budhakedar region, the situation has been especially dire. On Friday night, a house in Toli was destroyed by a landslide triggered by a cloudburst, claiming the lives of a mother and her daughter. Three other family members managed to escape and survive the disaster.

The neighbouring Tingarg village faced a similar ordeal on Saturday morning. Recognising the imminent threat, the local authorities made decision to evacuate around 80 households, ensuring the safety of the residents. However, in the evening, 15 more houses were destroyed by a landslide, leaving the villagers in a state of panic.

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Furthermore, in Tehri district, the Dharmganga river's rising waters claimed another victim. A hut in Jhala village was washed away and a mother and her daughter remain missing, while two people managed to escape.

Uttarakhand Landslide: Kedarnath, Badrinath Roads Blocked

The impact of the heavy rains has not been limited to the villages, it has also disrupted crucial transportation links. The Kedarnath Yatra route was blocked by a landslide, stranding around 2,500 pilgrims for nine hours. The Badrinath Highway was closed for more than 12 hours near Kanchen Ganga and the Gangotri National Highway in Uttarkashi was blocked for four hours.

Virendra Shah, a resident of Toli village, recounts the loss of his wife Sarita Devi (37) and daughter Ankita (15). As the family huddled in the veranda, listening to the ominous sound of falling boulders, Sarita Devi went to get a sweater, accompanied by her daughter. Tragically, the house's wall collapsed, burying the mother and daughter under the debris. Virendra Shah's attempts to rescue them were unsuccessful.

In response to this calamity, local authorities have sprung into action. MLA Shakti Lal Shah and District Magistrate Mayur Dixit visited Toli village and provided a cheque of Rs 9.35 lakh to the bereaved family.

Uttarakhand Landslide: Schools Closed In Toli, Tingarh, Bhigun and Budhakedar villages

Additionally, the administration has declared a three-day holiday in schools across Toli, Tingarh, Bhigun, and Budhakedar villages, ensuring the safety of students.

The situation in other parts of Tehri district is equally dire. Around 10 villages have lost contact with their block headquarters due to the destruction of motor roads along the Balganga and Dharmganga rivers. A significant portion of the Budhakedar-Pinswad road has also been washed away.

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Yellow Alert Issued For Dehradun and Other Districts

The state's weather patterns have added to the challenges. Meteorological experts have issued a yellow alert for Dehradun, Tehri, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Nainital and Pithoragarh districts, anticipating further heavy rainfall in the next 12 hours. The weather conditions are expected to remain unstable on Monday as well.

In response to the crisis, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed the Garhwal Commissioner and the Tehri District Magistrate to conduct relief and rescue operations effectively. He has also instructed the Tehri administration to identify and evacuate vulnerable villages.

The Chief Minister has further directed the authorities to prioritise the restoration of electricity and water supply in the relief camps and to provide immediate financial assistance to the affected families.