Landslide in Uttarakhand kills seven

Landslide, triggered by incessant rains, wreaked havoc and killed seven people in wee hours here today.

Three houses were destroyed when rubble came down from a hill in Dehradun around 2.30 a.m.

Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order), Ram Singh Meena, said rescue teams were rushed to the spot and seven bodies were pulled out.

"Around 2-2.30 a.m. rubble came down due to which three houses were devastated. Eight people from three families were trapped inside. Our officials of SDRF (state disaster response force), police and fire services had reached the spot immediately. They tried to save people alive. But since houses were totally demolished, after rigorous efforts, we could only save one woman and seven bodies were recovered," said Meena.

Incessant rains in Uttarakhand have disrupted normal life. In Pauri Garhwal district, 17 people were buried alive as dangerous landslides hit the hilly region.

Uttarakhand was hit by its heaviest rainfall on record in June 2013, causing lakes and rivers to burst their banks, inundating towns and villages.