About 300 people trapped in Uttarakhand after landslide; orange alert issued

About 300 people are trapped in the Dharchula and Gunji areas of Uttarakhand following a landslide, newswire agency ANI claimed.

As per the report, on the outskirts of Pithoragarh, the Lipulekh-Tawaghat motor road, 45 km above Dharchula, near Lakhanpur, has been washed away by 100 metres due to the landslide.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand State Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for Uttarakhand for June 1 and 2.


In the advisory, the weather department has said that various parts of the state could witness heavy rain along with hailstorms, lightning, and wind speeds of up to 80 km per hour.


The weather department has also cautioned that places above 3500 metres above sea level could also see snowfall.

The Uttarakhand Police, citing the weather advisory, has said that due to bad weather, there is a higher risk of landslides.

Tourists have thus been advised to take ample precautions, including taking breaks in between. The weather department has also advised people to take shelter only in safe, concrete houses and avoid trees during inclement weather.

The state police have, in their advisory, told people not to take part in adventure activities and to keep checking weather forecasts.

The police had earlier asked devotees coming for Yamunotri and Gangotri Dham Yatra "to plan their journey after taking the weather forecast, keep rain cover, umbrella and woolen/warm clothes with them during the journey".

The IMD on Monday issued an orange alert for Uttarakhand where it predicted rain and hailstorm in higher reaches of the state and rain and thunder in the plains of it.

The Meteorological Department predicted rain in Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Rudraprayag and light rain in Bageshwar, Almora and Pithoragarh. The Meteorological Department has also issued a warning of gusty winds blowing at a speed of 70 km.