11 dead in landslide during Manimahesh Yatra in Himachal's Chamba
PTC Web Desk: Tragedy struck the Manimahesh Yatra on Thursday night when a landslide in Bharmaur, Chamba district, claimed the lives of 11 pilgrims. Among the deceased are three from Punjab, one from Uttar Pradesh, and five from Chamba, while the identities of two victims are yet to be confirmed.
According to officials, the deaths were caused by falling boulders and lack of oxygen at high altitude. Nearly 3,000 pilgrims remain stranded in Bharmaur, where rescue operations are underway. Last week, seven devotees had also lost their lives in a similar landslide, while nine others went missing.
Meanwhile, in Uttarakhand, cloudbursts in Rudraprayag, Chamoli, and Tehri Garhwal districts late Thursday night have left several people missing. In Chamoli, many families were trapped inside their homes due to debris. In Rudraprayag, the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers have risen to dangerous levels, forcing the authorities to evacuate houses along the riverbanks.
Floodwaters entered residential areas, while the Badrinath Highway was submerged in the Alaknanda River, cutting off traffic between Srinagar and Rudraprayag. In Kedarnath valley’s Lawara village, a motor bridge was swept away in the strong currents, worsening the crisis.
Authorities in both states have urged residents and pilgrims to remain alert as rescue operations continue in challenging weather conditions.
- With inputs from agencies
