Killed, many missing n U’khand landslide

Four people, ding three children, were d and a few others went ing after several houses hit by debris and muck to a cloudburst in Jumma ge, in Pithoragarh district of rakhand, in the wee hours onday, officials familiar the development said. he disaster occurred in ri and Tarkot hamlets in ma village when the houses

hit by debris and muck to heavy rains. So far, four es have been recovered and te disaster response force F) team is searching for r missing persons,” Pithoradistrict magistrate (DM) sh Chauhan said. e have surveyed the village elicopter and sent SDRF national disaster response (NDRF) teams along with e and revenue teams to run f and rescue work in the ted villages. The casualties d be higher as the affected ge is on top of a hill,” Chauadded. e affected village is around 125 km from the district headquarters.

Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) personnel were the first ones to reach the site to begin rescue operations. SSB commandant MP Singh confirmed that bodies of three children were among four recovered from Jamuni hamlet.

“We have set up a helipad for officials and rescuers to reach there. We are also sending a medical team to the village to treat the injured,” he said.

Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said he spoke to the Pithoragarh DM and Kumaon commissioner Sushil Kumar, and directed them to shift the affected residents to safer areas and make arrangements for essential food supplies and medicines.

“Due to bad weather, I could not go to Jumma in Pithoragarh where three children have died and their bodies have been recovered and the four others are still missing following heavy rainfall. As soon as the weather improves, I will inspect the area. Relief operation is underway,” Dhami told news agency ANI.

The district, which has received 1,170 mm rain since June 1, has been witnessing heavy rainfall for the past few days. Rivers such as Kali, Gori and Saryu have already begun flowing near the danger level. The incessant downpour has als triggered landslides and boulder falls, halting all movement in five border roads and 10 rural roads.

“We are convening an emergency meeting on how to tackle the situation and more information will be available after the meeting,” Chauhan said.

Meanwhile, two children were trapped after their house in Kotda village in Dehradun’s Vikas Nagar area collapsed on Monday. While one child was rescued, efforts are underway to rescue the other.