Cloudburst damages 5 bridges

Dehradun : Landslides triggered by incessant rains in the hills of Uttarakhand on Tuesday blocked many road routes, including Rishikesh-Badrinath highway at Lambagad.

A cloudburst at Gairsain in Chamoli district in the early hours on Tuesday also damaged bridges, a school building and cowsheds, the SDRF said.

Besides blocking the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway at Lambagad, rubble from landslips has also blocked 19 motor roads in Chamoli, seven in Uttarkashi and eight in Pauri districts, it said.

Four cowsheds were destroyed, five bridges damaged and one school building was partially damaged in the cloudburst in Gairsain, it said.

Rains over the last two days in the hills and in the catchment areas of rivers have increased their water levels, including those of the Ganga, Yamuna, Nandakini and Pindar.

Rivers in Kumaon region, including Kali Nadi in Pithoragarh and Ramganga in Udham Singh Nagar district, were also in spate, the SDRF said It has been raining intermittently in Dehradun and Mussoorie for the last two days even as the weatherman has predicted light showers and isolated heavy rains in the state over the next 24 hours.

Heavy rains are likely to lash isolated places in Uttarakhand over the next 24 hours especially in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Pitthoragarh, Nainital, Pauri and Dehradun, the Meteorological department in Dehradun said.