Eight to nine workers have reportedly gone missing after a sudden cloudburst in Baligarh, along the Barkot-Yamunotri road in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, caused severe damage to an under-construction hotel site on Sunday morning.
According to Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya, rescue operations are in progress, with teams from the police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed to the site.
“A cloudburst in Baligarh on the Barkot-Yamunotri road of the district has caused heavy damage to an under-construction hotel site. 8-9 workers at the under-construction hotel site are missing. Police, SDRF and NDRF have left for the spot,” said Prashant Arya.
The cloudburst took place in Silai Band on Barkot-Yamunotri Marg. "Yamunotri Marg has also been affected," Arya added.
The cloudburst was triggered by intense rainfall in the region. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for the hill state for Sunday and Monday, warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and lightning likely at several isolated locations.
Additionally, in view of the heavy rain prediction, Uttarakhand authorities suspended the Char Dham Yatra on Sunday for the next 24 hours.
“Char Dham Yatra has been suspended for the next 24 hours in view of the heavy rain alert. Instructions have been given to the police and administration officials to stop the pilgrims in Haridwar,” ANI quoted Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey as saying.
Meanwhile, continuous rainfall in the hill state has caused major disruptions, including the blockage of the National Highway near Nandprayag and Bhaneropani. Authorities in Rudraprayag also restricted movement on the Sonprayag–Munkatiya road due to landslides and falling debris earlier this week.
This road, crucial for Kedarnath pilgrims, was completely shut near the Sonprayag shuttle bridge and Munkatiya sliding zone. Pilgrims were temporarily halted at Sonprayag and Gaurikund for safety.
Source: India Today