Toll in Uttarakhand rains rises to 67

At least 67 people have lost their lives and thousands others rendered homeless in the incessant rains during the past few days in Uttarakhand, a top official said here.

"The toll in landslides, floods and cloudbursts in different areas of the hill state has risen to 67," disaster management secretary Rakesh Kumar today said.

He said the state government has requisitioned four IAF helicopters for dropping food packets in the affected areas.

Meanwhile, Congress president Sonia Gandhi made an aerial
survey of the affected areas in Haridwar, Tehri and Almora.

Chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said at least 200 people have so far died in various rain-related incidents.

He said 412 families in 25 villages have been affected in Tehri and Uttarkashi districts by the rising reservoir level of Tehri dam. Over 8,000 people have been evacuated. 

The chief minister demanded a package of Rs5,000 cr from the Centre for relief and rehabilitation.    

Pointing out that 90% roads have been damaged during this monsoon season, Nishank directed officials to make efforts to reopen the roads blocked by the landslides. 

Nearly a dozen trains originating from Dehra Dun were cancelled today as debris from the Mansadevi hills kept falling on the Dehra Dun-Haridwar track, railway sources said.