 "33 feared dead in Uttarakhand cloudburst disaster")
At least 33 people were feared dead after a series of cloudbursts early Friday caused havoc in the disaster-prone Pithoragarh and Chamoli districts of Uttarakhand.
Nearly 70 people were rescued from the Nirmal Palace hotel in Chamoli district on the Badrinath highway after it was cut off following heavy landslides in the area, Additional Director General of Police Anil Raturi said. "Our police force led by Chamoli Superintendent of police Preeti Priyadarshani rescued all the 70 people from the hotel," said Raturi.
Only eight bodies have been recovered so far in Baseri village of Pithoragarh district, where 12-15 more people are still feared trapped in the debris, top government officials said. In another village, about three people were feared dead. In Chamoli district, a total of 10 people were feared dead in two separate incidents. Most of the people died in their sleep.
A high alert has been sounded in the hill state after the India Meteorological Department issued a 72-hour warning of heavy rains in the hilly areas.
Chief Minister Harish Rawat, who was in New Delhi, rushed back to Dehradun to monitor the situation closely and asked the district administrations to provide all logistic help to the affected people.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed concern over the incidents and said a team of National Disaster Response Force has been sent to the state.
Nearly 70 people were rescued from the Nirmal Palace hotel in Chamoli district on the Badrinath highway after it was cut off following heavy landslides in the area, Additional Director General of Police Anil Raturi said. "Our police force led by Chamoli Superintendent of police Preeti Priyadarshani rescued all the 70 people from the hotel," said Raturi.
Only eight bodies have been recovered so far in Baseri village of Pithoragarh district, where 12-15 more people are still feared trapped in the debris, top government officials said. In another village, about three people were feared dead. In Chamoli district, a total of 10 people were feared dead in two separate incidents. Most of the people died in their sleep.
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Over 150 families were badly affected in the disaster. Pithoragarh was the worst-affected area where the local police, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and revenue officials have launched relief and rescue operations.
A high alert has been sounded in the hill state after the India Meteorological Department issued a 72-hour warning of heavy rains in the hilly areas.
Chief Minister Harish Rawat, who was in New Delhi, rushed back to Dehradun to monitor the situation closely and asked the district administrations to provide all logistic help to the affected people.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed concern over the incidents and said a team of National Disaster Response Force has been sent to the state.