Authorities are conducting search operations after 12 people went missing following a landslide near Gaurikund on the Kedarnath Yatra route. The incident occurred in the Rudraprayag district on Thursday night.
Flash floods triggered a landslide near the Gaurikund post bridge, damaging three shops.
Relief and rescue operations were launched by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel but none of the missing people have been found yet. Disaster Management Officer Dalip Singh Rajwar said three shops were affected because of falling rocks and heavy rainfall. "The search operation was started immediately. It was said that around 10-12 people were there but till now they have not been located," Rajwar told ANI.
The rescue operations are affected by heavy rains coupled with boulders falling intermittently from the hillsides.
Those missing have been identified as Vinod (26), Mulayam (25), Ashu (23), Priyanshu Chamola (18), Ranbir Singh (28), Amar Bohra, his wife Anita Bohra, their daughters, Radhika Bohra and Pinki Bohra, and sons Prithvi Bohra (7), Jatil (6) and Vakil (3), officials said. A few of the missing people are from Nepal.
Earlier on Thursday, the Gangotri National Highway, 500 metres ahead of Bhatwadi, was closed to traffic due to falling debris.
