Punjab man dies during Adi Kailash yatra, 1 killed in Pithoragarh landslide

Dehradun: Two persons died in Pithoragarh, while Haldwani's vital Gaula bridge suffered significant damage due to incessant rainfall which wreaked havoc across Uttarakhand, particularly in Kumaon region.According to official data, over 400 roads, including Badrinath National Highway, have been intermittently closed due to landslides. Additionally, a sub-district hospital in Almora was evacuated, with patients being moved to safer locations.Swadesh Nanchahal (45), a resident of Jalandhar in Punjab, on Adi Kailash yatra died at Jyolingkong due to respiratory issues.Meanwhile, the body of Devki Devi (75) was recovered from debris in Garkot village after her house collapsed. Another resident, Vipin Kumar, 22, sustained injuries and was admitted to hospital. In Champawat, a critically injured woman, Geeta Devi, was airlifted to Rishikesh as roads remained blocked.In Pithoragarh, two people died, and more than 12 houses were damaged. The Tanakpur-Pithoragarh and Kailash Mansarovar roads remained blocked for the second consecutive day. Over the past 48 hours, Champawat recorded 300mm of rainfall, while Pithoragarh saw 275mm.Authorities managed to reopen Malari road, which leads to the China border, on Saturday morning. However, debris clearance near Joshimath on the Badrinath highway was still under way at the time of this report. While the Kedarnath trek route was reopened on Friday, vehicular movement between Sonprayag and Gaurikund remained disrupted for most of the day. The Yamunotri trek route also saw interruptions due to landslides near Orchha bend.Rudraprayag's district disaster management officer, Nandan Singh Rajwar, told TOI, "The continuous rain and landslides have made debris removal challenging. The yatra is being carried out with caution, and we have identified around 10-12 danger points where SDRF teams are assisting devotees safely cross the route."Chamoli's district disaster management officer, Nand Kishore Joshi, said while Malari route is now open, there are strong possibilities that vehicular movement on Badrinath highway will resume soon.The Pithoragarh-Tanakpur road remained closed for the second day, with over 100 people stranded in Champawat, waiting for the road to reopen. District information officer, Girija Joshi, reported that 43 roads are closed in Champawat, while more than 50 roads are blocked in Pithoragarh.Meanwhile, a section of the bridge over Gaula river in Nainital was submerged, halting all traffic. This bridge is a critical connection between Haldwani and Nepal border, passing through Sitarganj, Khatima, Tanakpur, Champawat, and Pithoragarh. The erosion of the river has also placed the railway line and an international stadium at risk. NHAI and local authorities are inspecting the bridge's safety, with officials saying it will take time before traffic can resume. Nainital MP Ajay Bhatt visited the site and directed officials to take immediate action.In Almora, Ranikhet sub-district hospital was evacuated and sealed after heavy rain triggered a landslide and the collapse of nearby trees. The incident occurred on Friday, leading to the relocation of 21 patients to private hospitals. Two large trees fell dangerously close to the hospital, with one landing beside the building. Additionally, a major landslide also occurred behind the facility, threatening its structural stability. Local authorities dispatched a police team to clear trees, and it was decided to evacuate the hospital as a precautionary measure. Almora chief medical officer, Dr RC Pant, said 14 patients were discharged, while seven were transferred to private hospitals.Officials directed medical officers at nearby PHCs and CHCs — including those in Bhatronjkhan, Bhikiyasen, Dwarahat, and Chaukhutia — not to refer patients to Ranikhet sub-district hospital.Experts have predicted a respite from heavy rain from Sunday. Senior scientist at the Met centre, Rohit Thapliyal, told TOI, "No heavy rain is forecast for the next four to five days. Thunderstorms with light to moderate rain may occur in scattered areas, especially in Kumaon, but no significant rainfall activity is expected in the coming days."(With inputs from Prem Punetha in Pithoragarh, Sonali Mishra in Nainital, Yogesh Nagarkoti in Bageshwar)