Uttarakhand rains: Houses, roads damaged in Rudraprayag cloudburst; yatra routes blocked [PICS, VIDEO]

Dehradun: Rains continue to cause havoc in several parts of the country, including Kerala and Karnataka in the South and Uttarakhand in the North. A cloudburst was reported today from Sirwadi village in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag, causing damage to several houses and roads. There were, thankfully, no reports of loss of life or injuries.

However, in the state’s Chamoli district, a panchayat official dies while 4 others were injured when rocks tumbled down the hills on their cars following heavy rain fell in two separate incidents.

Heavy rainfall was also reported from capital Dehradun as well. A news agency released pictures of water entering Dehradun's Tapkeshwar Temple. The water level of Tamsa river, which flows along the temple, has also risen following heavy rainfall.

In many areas, people were facing difficulties in going about their lives due to heavy rainfall or swollen rivers. Once such video emerged from Uttarkashi where the people of Sankari Taluka could be seen using a makeshift bridge to cross a river stream.

The authorities in the state have already halted the Kedarnath Yatra due to continuous landslides on the Kedarnath-Gaurikund walkway. The decision was taken by the Rudraprayag district administration.

The region has been observing frequent landslides due to continuous heavy rains in the mountainous regions of the state.

According to Rudraprayag SP Navneet Bhullar, frequent landslide have been witnessed at Chidbasa near Junglechatti on the Kedarnath-Gaurikund route. The official added that work was underway to repair the route.

The Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra route in Dharchula of the state’s Pithoragarh district has also been blocked at two locations following incessant rainfall and landslides. Traffic movement has been halted and efforts were on to clear the route.

Pictures and video courtesy ANI