Fresh landslide hits rescue operations

Fresh spells of rain overnight triggered a major landslide at Sirobagar

Fresh spells of rain followed by a landslide at Sirobhgarh bend on the Srinagar-Rudraprayag highway have come as a body blow to the ongoing rescue-and-relief operations in Uttarakhand.

An entire stretch of 200-300 metres of road has been wiped away by the slide that happened late on Monday night. "The highway was open briefly between 8 pm and midnight after force had worked all the day to rebuild the road. But fresh spells of rain around midnight nullified all the hard work by us," says Palam Singh Negi, officer on duty, Uttarakhand Police.

Crucial supplies such as vegetables, provisions and other relief items headed for Rudraprayag and flood-affected areas ahead are stuck here, with scores of vehicles that left Srinagar last evening unable to move ahead. Even helicopter relief operations may be affected as at least two tankers carrying aviation turbine fuel to Gauchar airbase are stuck on the roads.

Sardar Maninder Singh, who is part of a convoy of 10 vehicles carrying essential supplies, says: "Last night when the road briefly opened up, only people used to slides and difficult terrain were able to go-ahead, as vehicles are getting stuck on lose soil and had to be pushed through. We never wanted to take a chance."

Longer wait means more agony for those who are in search of their loved ones. Two brothers are seen waiting for the roads to be re-opened so that they can proceed their journey to find their family who had gone to Badrinath. "We haven’t heard from them since last Tuesday," says one of them.

A second longer route to Rudraprayag is also shut as a bridge had been washed away. Engineers say the government should have kept at least a second route in good conditions to address such situation. They are hopeful of restoring the road traffic by Tuesday evening.

The General Reserve Engineers Force of the Indian army is working to re-build the road practically on thin air. Three bulldozers have been pressed into service to remove the debris and build the road. However, machine works as slow as man as the area is full of loose soil.

The floods have also shown people rise to the occasion, showing signs of humanity. A group of ‘Sardars’ heading towards the flood-hit areas have opened a food stall to offer free food and tea to stranded passengers.