J&K Assembly's Committee on environment demands urgent inquiry into Kishtwar cloudburst
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
2 more bodies recovered, toll of Kishtwar cloudburst mounts to 63
Rescuers, on Sunday, recovered two more bodies from cloudburst-battered Chishoti village in Kishtwar district taking the death toll to 63, said officials. Indian Army, SDRF, police and local administration carry out a search and rescue operation in flash flood-hit Chishoti village, in Kishtwar, on Sunday. (ANI) 'Two more bodies were recovered from the debris today, which has now taken the death toll to 63 so far. Searches are still on to trace missing pilgrims. We don't have any exact figures of those missing,' said a revenue official. As per reports 160 pilgrims remain missing since the cloudburst in the village. On Sunday, CISF DIG MK Yadav also visited Chishoti to take stock of the rescue operations. 'Search and rescue operation is underway. We had deployed our personnel here for the Machail Mata Yatra earlier. When this unfortunate incident happened, our personnel alerted people and saved a few. Our three personnel lost their lives and one is still missing,' he said. Chief minister Omar Abdullah had on Saturday expressed concern over the recent natural calamities in the Union territory, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and called for consultation with experts to see what can be done to 'mitigate the risks and dangers'. 'The entire Himalayan belt is now more prone to glacial lake bursts and cloudbursts,' he had said while responding about the possibility of forming a team of experts by his government to safeguard the fragile ecosystem in J&K. 'We are going to have a look at it. It is not just what is happening in J&K. Look at the scary videos that we saw from Uttarakhand. What is happening in Himachal? We are all now, I think, prone to these glacial lake bursts and cloudbursts. To deal with this freak weather, we will have to collectively and individually consult experts to see what we can do to mitigate the risks and the dangers of these things,' he said.
New Indian Express
12 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Land subsidence on Uttarkashi route sparks safety fears ahead of monsoon
DEHRADUN: A fresh wave of concern has gripped Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district as land subsidence was reported on a key road connecting Bhatwari to Gangnani. About one kilometre beyond Salang bridge, significant ground sinking has begun, raising alarms among locals and travellers ahead of the monsoon season. Visible cracks mar the road surface, with a section caving in, posing a serious risk to traffic. The route is a lifeline for local villages and a crucial part of the Char Dham Yatra, serving pilgrims heading to Gangotri and Yamunotri. A spokesperson for the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) confirmed: 'Disaster relief teams equipped with necessary tools have been dispatched to the site.' The incident comes as Uttarakhand's Himalayan region continues to face geological instability. The recent crisis in Joshimath highlighted the area's fragility, where unplanned construction, heavy rainfall, landslides, and river erosion contribute to ground subsidence. Experts note that the young, tectonically active Himalayan range is prone to such events, with heavy rains saturating soil and reducing its load-bearing capacity. Jai Prakash Singh Panwar, District Disaster Management Officer, Uttarkashi, said: 'We received information about land subsidence on the Bhatwari-Gangnani road. Our team conducted an initial assessment and found the situation to be serious. Clear cracks and sinking are visible, which could be dangerous for vehicle movement. The District Magistrate and BRO have inspected the site, and remedial measures are underway.' Panwar added: 'We have immediately informed the Border Roads Organization (BRO), as this route falls under their jurisdiction. BRO teams will soon conduct a detailed survey and commence necessary repair work. Our priority is to secure the road and ensure smooth traffic flow, particularly given the upcoming Char Dham Yatra season. We have also requested BRO to install barricades and warning signs.' Environmentalist Chandan Nayal from Okhalkanda said: 'Such challenges are a constant in Uttarakhand's mountainous regions and cannot be addressed by temporary repairs alone. We need to adopt more sustainable and eco-friendly development models, keeping in mind the geological sensitivity of this region.'
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Landslides strand 200 tourists in Rudraprayag, disrupt highways in Uttarkashi
1 2 Dehradun/Uttarkashi: Heavy rain triggered multiple landslides in Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi on Sunday, stranding pilgrims and blocking key routes to Himalayan shrines. In Rudraprayag, approximately 200 tourists were stranded on the trek to the Madmaheshwar temple after a landslide occurred around 1 pm. State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams reached the spot and began evacuating people. "By evening, about 150 tourists had been rescued and shifted to a safe location. The remaining will be evacuated soon," said SDRF officer Vinit Vaibhav. "The team is closely monitoring the situation at the spot to respond to any emergency." Meanwhile, traffic remained paralysed on the Gangotri National Highway, where fresh landslides near Nalupani kept the road blocked throughout the day. Traffic was also halted at Netala and Ratudisera around 6 am, but was restored within four to five hours. The stretch beyond Dabrani has already been shut for 13 days due to heavy rain and landslides. " by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Could This NEW Collagen Blend Finally Reduce Your Cellulite? Vitauthority Learn More Undo Around 32 roads in the district are blocked due to rain. BRO machines are at work, but clearance at Nalupani is proving difficult as debris continues to slide," said district disaster management officer Shardul Gusain. Officials added that a 100-metre stretch near the Salang bridge ahead of Bhatwadi has developed large cracks, further restricting movement. Communication networks in Uttarkashi, including in Rudraprayag, were also down for nearly seven hours on Sunday. In a separate incident in Uttarkashi, a 33-year-old man, Shyam Lal, died after his two-wheeler plunged into a gorge, likely due to slippery roads. "A joint SDRF–DDRF team recovered the body and sent it for autopsy before handing it over to his family," Vaibhav said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
