Rain continues in Uttarakhand, nine killed

Rain continued at several places in Uttarakhand on Wednesday even as nine pilgrims were killed and 13 others injured in landslides and due to boulders falling from mountains in the past 24 hours.
Incessant rain nearly crippled the state infrastructure with several routes, including national highways, were closed due to frequent landslides, affecting the ‘Char Dham yatra’ currently underway.
The Met Department has forecast heavy rain on Tuesday and Wednesday and asked the state administration to take adequate precautions.
Ganga, Yamuna and all other rivers are in spate due to incessant rains, and bridges have also been washed away in some places.
A bridge on the Joshimath-Malari road connecting Niti Valley has washed away due to floods in the Jummagad rainy river, cutting off communication with about a dozen villages.
At least three houses were washed away due to rise in the water level of Kali river in Ranthi village of Dharchula area in Pithoragarh district. However, none of the houses had people living in it.