Guptkashi, 23 August (HS): The rain in Kedar Valley on Thursday-Friday midnight once again proved to be heavy for the pilgrims and their helpers. Heavy rain was falling intermittently in Kedar Valley since Thursday morning. In such a situation, at around 1:20 am in the night, information was received about 4 people being suddenly buried under debris near the Phata helipad. As soon as the information was received, the team of District Disaster Management Force was sent to the spot. By morning, the news of the tragic death of all four people was received. According to the details given by their other companions, all these people are residents of Nepal origin. They have been identified as Tul Bahadur, Poorna, Kishna Parihar and Deepak. The bodies of the four deceased have been brought to Rudraprayag.

District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said that at around 1:20 am, information was received that 4 people were buried under the debris near Khat Gadera near Phanta helipad due to heavy rain. As soon as the information was received, a team was sent to the spot for relief and rescue work. Due to heavy rains since evening, silt gaderas are overflowing at many places in the district including Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. In such a situation, the speed of rescue work remains slow in the darkness of night. It also takes time to reach the accident site on the hilly road. As soon as the dusk cleared, the relief and rescue work gained momentum and 4 people were found after removing the debris, but unfortunately they were not alive.

Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar