Uttarakhand rain mayhem: House collapse claims life, 3 rescued in Chamoli

Chamoli, August 16: A heart-wrenching incident unfolded in the aftermath of subsidence-hit Joshimath in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, as a house collapse resulted in one casualty and the daring rescue of three individuals, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.

According to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the calamity struck Helang village situated on the Badrinath highway, specifically between Pipalkoti and Joshimath, during the late hours of Tuesday evening.

Kotwali Joshimath promptly alerted the SDRF, informing them of a two-storey house that had crumbled adjacent to a crusher unit along the banks of the Alaknanda River. This catastrophe led to apprehensions that several locals might be entrapped beneath the debris, as recounted by officials.

Responding rapidly, the SDRF team reached the scene to uncover four individuals buried within the wreckage of the collapsed dwelling. Swift action ensued, culminating in the successful rescue of three individuals, who were promptly transported to a nearby medical facility. Tragically, one person lost their life on-site.

The deceased's remains were extricated from beneath the wreckage and handed over to district law enforcement, according to official sources. The SDRF noted that at the time of the incident, seven laborers were within the premises.

"Seven laborers were present in the house when the incident took place. Three of them were rescued and admitted to a hospital," an official affirmed.

Intensive searches persisted in the pursuit of potentially trapped local residents.

Official statistics reveal that 52 individuals have succumbed to rain-related events during this monsoon season within the state, while an additional 37 sustained injuries.

In alignment with directives from Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami, the combined efforts of the SDRF and NDRF units were deployed to regions significantly affected by rain-induced occurrences

The monsoon in Uttarakhand has unleashed heavy rainfall, triggering landslides and flash floods across numerous areas. Consequently, sections of the Badrinath National Highway have encountered blockades in several locales within the Chamoli district, as reported by officials.

Chamoli Police confirmed highway closures at Pipalkoti, Gadora, Navodaya Vidyalaya Pipalkoti, Gulabkoti, Pagalnala, and Vishnuprayag regions of the Chamoli district.

A chilling incident transpired on Monday, when intermittent rainfall prompted a landslide, leading to a blockade along the highway. This unfortunate event resulted in the entrapment of several vehicles beneath mountain debris in Pipalkoti. 

Also Read: Uttarakhand rains: 52 people rescued after bridge collapses in Rudraprayag