U’khand: Five killed, two missing after heavy rains flatten houses in Dharchula

Pithoragarh (U’khand), Aug. 30 (PTI): Five people, including three children, were killed and two others went missing after three houses collapsed in a village following heavy rains in Dharchula sub-division of the district in Uttarakhand, an official said on Monday.

The incident took place in Jumma village late Sunday night, Pithoragarh District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan, who rushed to the spot to supervise relief and rescue operations, said.

“Five bodies, including those of three children, have been recovered, while the search for two more still missing is underway,” SSB commandant M P Singh said.

The deceased have been identified as Sanjana (15), Renu (11), Shivani (9) — all daughters of Joga Singh of Jumma village — and Sunita Devi and Parwati Devi.

Jayamati Devi and Lal Singh who were injured have been admitted to Dharchula PHC, officials said.

The search teams are using sniffer dogs to trace Chander Singh and Hajari Devi, who are still missing, district disaster management officer Bhupendra Singh Mahar said.

A helipad has been built in the affected area, a control room set up there and a medical team sent to the village to treat the injured, the district magistrate said.

Rescue operations will go on until all the missing persons are found and the affected people are moved to safety, he said.

“The casualties could be higher as the affected village is on the top of a hill,” Chauhan said.

“We have made an aerial survey of the village by a helicopter and sent SDRF and NDRF teams, along with police and revenue teams, to the village to run relief and rescue operations on a war footing,” the district magistrate said.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to Chauhan and Kumaon Commissioner Sushilk Kumar to assess the extent of damage caused by heavy rains in Jumma village.

He asked the officials to move the affected people to safe locations immediately and make adequate arrangements of food and medicines for them.

He also asked the Kumaon commissioner to ensure that the roads, including national highways blocked by landslide rubble in the region should be cleared at the earliest.

Dhami wanted to visit the spot himself, but could not do so due to bad weather.

However, he said he will go there as soon as the weather clears.