RUDRAPRAYAG: A landslide on the Kedarnath National Highway in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district claimed the life of a 38-year-old man and left five others injured, officials said on Friday.
The incident occurred near Kund, close to Guptkashi, when debris from the landslide struck a vehicle carrying pilgrims from Chhattisgarh. Rescue teams from the local administration and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were promptly deployed to the site to carry out relief and evacuation efforts.
The injured were transported to Augustmuni Hospital for medical treatment. According to officials, two of the victims sustained serious injuries, while three others suffered minor wounds.
The deceased has been identified as Rajesh Singh Rawat, the vehicle’s driver, a resident of Lambgaon in Tehri Garhwal district. He was en route to Kedarnath with a group of pilgrims from Chhattisgarh at the time of the accident.
The injured passengers, aged between 19 and 25, are from Durg district in Chhattisgarh.
In light of continued adverse weather conditions, authorities have advised against travel to mountainous areas over the coming days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings for severe weather, including strong winds, rainfall, and hailstorms.
“Extreme weather is expected in Jammu and Kashmir on May 30 and 31, in Himachal Pradesh on May 31 and June 1, and in Uttarakhand from May 30 through June 1. Travel to these regions is strongly discouraged,” said IMD scientist Krishna Mishra.
