Amid heavy rainfall in various parts of Uttarakhand, a person stranded in the Khoh River was successfully rescued in the early hours of Wednesday by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). According to a report by PTI, the individual was pulled from the river near Sidhabali temple in Kotdwar. A video shared by PTI shows the man swimming towards the rescue team while wearing a life jacket provided by them and using a rope for support. Despite the strong currents, he managed to reach the other end where the SDRF team awaited him.
The weather department has issued predictions of continued heavy rain on Wednesday and has advised the state administration to take necessary precautions. The Meteorological Department has issued a 'red alert' for July 12 and an 'orange alert' for July 13 to 15.
As a result of incessant rainfall, the Ganga, Yamuna, and other rivers are flowing at dangerous levels, and several bridges have been washed away in certain areas.
Tragically, landslides caused by falling boulders from the mountains resulted in the loss of at least nine lives and left thirteen injured on Tuesday. The state's infrastructure has suffered significant damage due to the continuous rain, leading to the closure of several routes and highways due to landslides. This has also impacted the 'Char Dham Yatra', a popular pilgrimage in Uttarakhand. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has urged pilgrims and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel until the rainfall subsides.
In another incident, a bridge connecting Niti Valley on the Joshimath-Malari road was washed away by floods in the Jummagad River, cutting off communication with a dozen villages.
Taking stock of the situation, Chief Minister Dhami visited rain-affected areas in Dehradun on Tuesday and instructed the District Magistrate to investigate the causes of waterlogging on the ISBT road and other locations. "I request all the people to avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rains," he emphasized.