Uttarakhand: Five missing after cloudburst hits Mori Tehsil in Uttarkashi, rescue teams dispatched

Five persons were missing following a cloudburst and heavy rainfall here in Mori Tehsil of Uttarkashi district on Sunday, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Anurag Arya said. 

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has directed the Uttarkashi District Magistrate and Disaster Management Secretary to carry out rescue and evacuation operations and provide relief material to people impacted by the cloudburst. 

The state government has dispatched teams of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for rescue operations. However, the teams were facing issues to reach the spot as transportation has been severely affected due to incessant rains.

#WATCH Tons river in Uttarkashi's Mori tehsil overflows following cloudburst in the area. Teams of ITBP, SDRF and NDRF engaged in rescue and evacuation. #Uttarakhand pic.twitter.com/fOpE6J30Kg

— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2019

Gangotri highway has been shut down after debris fell from mountains on the road. 

Due to the cloudburst, several people have been stranded at various places in the area. 

"We have received information about people being stranded and damage to a few houses in Makudi and Digoli due to heavy rainfall. Teams of SDRF, Red Cross, ITBP and NDRF have been moved for rescue and evacuation operations," Uttarkashi District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan said.

Digoli village head Shashi Nautiyal said two drains were overflowing and roads have been flooded. Dozens of houses have suffered damage besides apple trees getting uprooted, she added. 

Tons river has been in spate in Uttarkashi following heavy rainfall and water has entered Tikoccchi and Tuni markets. The administration has gone on high alert, officials said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted widespread rainfall over the next three days in Uttarkashi.