Toll reaches 150, Rudraprayag worst hit

FLOODS\\ Tragedy struck Uttarakhand region of the Himalayas, when a cloud burst caused massive rains in the region, leading to floods that washed away roads, guest houses, buses and people, leaving large number of pilgrims and travellers stranded. It is being feared that the thousands of pilgrims staying in as many as 90 guest houses have been washed away in the flash floods. The State Disaster Mitigation and Management Centre, in its report to the Union Home Ministry, has said that casualties in the affected areas may run into thousands with about 90 ‘dharamashalas’ swept away in the flash floods. However, the toll was kept officially at 150. Later, June 21, more than 40 were found dead in Haridwar, that upped the official figures to 200. In Uttarakhand, over 15,000 people stranded in Kedarnath and Govindghat on way to Hemkund Sahib have been evacuated so far to Joshimath relief camps through air and road routes, IG police R S Meena said. Rudraprayaag district was the worst affected place, and rescue efforts are being focussed on the region, where almost 90 dharmashalas have been washed away, and many villagers and tourists are still under water.