One killed in landslide in Uttarakhand

Dehradun: One person was killed in a landslide triggered by incessant rains in Uttarakhand, even as the roads to Kedarnath and Badrinath remained blocked at several places affecting the Chardham Yatra, officials said today.

Balwant Singh (31) died after being hit by rocks and debris following a landslide in Munsyari area of Pithoragarh district last evening, State Emergency Operations Centre said here.

Many roads in the state including Rishikesh-Badrinath, Rishikesh-Kedarnath and Rishikesh Gangotri highways remained blocked at several places due to debris following the landslide, officials said.

The road to Kedarnath is blocked at Munkatiya and Dolia Devi near Guptkashi while the highway to Badrinath is blocked by at Lambagad. The road to Gangotri is also blocked at Gangnani and Army gate Harshil, they said.

Incessant rains have caused the water levels of most rivers to rise. However, the Ganga river is flowing around one metre below the danger mark at both Haridwar and Rishikesh.