Northern India has been hit hard with landslides, flashfloods and cloudbursts, which claimed 131 lives in the region so far. Along with that, a few thousands of people have been displaced in the state of Uttar Pradesh, where several rivers are in a dangerous situation with rising water levels.
The state of Uttarakhand has recorded a death toll of 102 by now. The worst hit was the Rudraprayag district, where 20 people were found dead and 40 hotels and 73 buildings, along with banks of river Alaknanda were swept away in roaring flood waters. The popular Kedarnath shrine was literally submerged in water and mud and 50 people died there in the flash floods. More than 70,000 pilgrims for the Himalayan shrines are left stranded.
The shrine, which is one of four holy dhams in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand faced torrential rains and about 500 people, including the pilgrims, are said to be missing in that area. Rakesh Tiwari, Ukhimath Sub Divisional Magistrate, after his return from Kedaranth said that 50 bodies were found lying in the areas connected to the shrine and that they are currently concentrating on the people who are alive.
Once the water recedes, the death toll is expected to rise and the relief teams will able to access the affected areas. Even the Ram Bada area, which is a busy spot near the temple, has been completely submerged.
