02 July,2016 09:31 AM IST | | Agencies
Torrential rains and landslides wreak havoc in Pithoragarh and Chamoli districts of Uttarakhand; 12 killed, 25 missing
Pithoragrh: Twelve persons were killed and 25 others went missing as torrential rains and landslides hit Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh and Chamoli districts in the wee hours of yesterday, burying villages in sludge with many residents trapped under the debris.
While eight persons were killed in cloudburst in Pithoragarh district, heavy rains claimed four lives in Chamoli district.
Two persons were swept away by the muddy waters and debris rushing down the slopes into Siron village in Chamoli. One person was killed in Ghat block and another in Sithel village in similar circumstances, SDM Chamoli S K Barnwal said, adding eight persons trapped in the debris have been rescued in the district so far.
The cloudburst in Singhali area of Pithorgarh district early this morning brought over 100 mm rains in two hours in a region of 50 sq km, flattening homes in over seven villages, according to officials.
"25 persons, missing from over seven villages of Singhali area in Didiihat sub division of Pithoragarh district, are being traced with the help of ITBP, SSB and Pithoragarh district police," said district disaster management officer RS Rana.
NDRF teams rushed
Centre yesterday rushed National Disaster Response Force rescue teams to Uttarakhand, and assured the hill state of all necessary help. Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to CM Harish Rawat on phone and took stock of the situation arising out of the cloudburst in Pithoragarh and Chamoli.
