Rain fury claims six more lives in Uttarakhand

DEHRADUN: Rain fury continued in Uttarakhand where six persons were on Thursday killed in a landslide in Nainital district even as a lake formed by a melting glacier near the Himalayan shrine of Badrinath prompted the Chamoli district administration to sound an alert.

Five persons were killed in a landslide triggered by heavy overnight rains in Lohardhunga village near Bhimtal in Nainital district at about 3.30 AM, the district information officer said.

Senior officials have rushed to the spot to supervise rescue operations, he said, adding, details are awaited.

Meanwhile, a lake formed after melting of glaciers at Satopanth in Chamoli district posed danger to the rain-ravaged areas of Badrinath, Joshimath and Karnaprayag, prompting the district administration to issue an alert.

"We have issued an alert following instructions to his effect from the state Disaster Management and Mitigation department," Chamoli District Magistrate S A Murugesan told PTI.

The lake which has formed after melting of glaciers at Satopanth, about 30 km from Badrinath can pose danger to the adjoining areas including the shrine, Joshimath and Karnaprayag, he said.

With the administration still grappling with the aftermath of the colossal tragedy that hit the state recently, nothing can be left to chance, he said.

However, with the weather largely clear in Chamoli, Uttarakashi and Rudraprayag districts air relief operations continued unobstructed in the affected areas, officials here said.