Two people died and five others are suspected to be trapped in rubble after a cloudburst in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district led to a landslide on Friday. The landslide occurred near Jhelum village on Joshimath-Malari Road, PTI quoted District Disaster Management officer NK Joshi as saying.
The seven people are reportedly labourers working with the Border Roads Organisation. They were sleeping by the hillside when a portion of the hill collapsed during the downpour, reported IANS.
Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said the State Disaster Management Department is engaged in rescue and relief operations at the site and ordered the district administration to oversee the operations.
The Badrinath Highway and the Gangotri National Highway between Therang and Gangnani were closed because of landslides. The yatra to Hemkund Sahib was uninterrupted, but heavy showers and inclement weather have reportedly disrupted the Char Dham pilgrimage.
The India Meteorological Department has warned of heavy to very heavy rain in isolated places in the state till Tuesday.
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