DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand has witnessed a sharp increase in rain-related fatalities this June, with at least 65 deaths reported — double the 32 recorded during the same month last year. According to data from the state’s Emergency Operations Centre, 45 of the fatalities were caused by road accidents, while 20 were due to natural disasters such as landslides and flash floods. Additionally, 18 people remain missing, including nine from road accidents and nine from natural calamities.
One of the deadliest incidents occurred on Thursday in Rudraprayag, where a bus carrying Char Dham pilgrims plunged into the Alaknanda River after colliding with a speeding truck. The crash claimed five lives, and seven passengers are still missing, with authorities indicating their chances of survival are slim.
Experts have noted that the monsoon arrived earlier than usual this year, bringing heavy rainfall that triggered widespread landslides and slope failures across the state. They also pointed to the ongoing road-widening projects in the hilly regions, which have destabilized slopes and left loose debris at mid-elevations, further contributing to the disasters.
