Youth drowns as heavy rains lash most parts of U'Khand

An engineering student drowned in the Tons river near the city following heavy rains while landslides in most parts of Uttarakhand today led to traffic disruptions along several routes besides keeping the highways to Badrinath and Gangotri shrines blocked.
20-year-old Utsav Gaud, a second year BTech student along with two others was stranded in Tons river near Dehradun last evening. By the time police rushed to the spot Utsav had been swept several kilometres down the river.
Two of his friends were rescued and he was found floating in the river.
Utsav was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead, State Emergency Operations Centre here said.

Most of the places have been lashed by rain whereas heavy to very heavy showers have also been reported from a number of places in Kumaon region.
Nainital received the maximum 132.08 MM of rain since yesterday followed by Haldwani 114 MM, Khatima 97 MM, Chiorgaliya91 MM, Badkot 75 MM, Bhatwadi 63 MM and Didihat 60MM.

Landslips triggered by intermittent rains in the state has kept Rishikesh-Badrinath and Rishikesh-Gangotri highways blocked for the last four days affecting chardham yatra.
A number of rural roads are also blocked by boulders and rocks falling from hillsides in Chamoli district following landslips.
However, efforts are underway on a war footing by BRO personnel to restore the blocked roads, the emergency operation centre said.

The Rishikesh-Gangotri highway is also blocked by debris near Gangnani, Helgugad and Naitala.
Chief Minister Harish Rawat has spoken to the district magistrates and asked them to be vigilant in view of heavy rains continuing in the state for several days.
He asked them to focus on the safety and convenience of chardham yatris and the kanwariyas.