An alternate road that was opened on the Dehradun-Ranipokhari-Rishikesh highway in Uttarakhand to facilitate the movement of vehicles was washed away due to heavy rainfall. Heavy rainfall lashed the area on Monday night, following which massive floods washed away the road.
The temporary bridge was built on August 27 to facilitate vehicle movement near a village called Rani Pokhari. The alternate structure was constructed after a bridge, part of the Ranipokhari flyover on the highway collapsed due to intense rains and flooding. Floodwaters washed away the alternate route after the region experienced a very heavy bout of rainfall yesterday night. Meanwhile, a team of geologists on Monday recommended immediate evacuation of residents from the rain-hit Jumma village and adjoining hamlets in the district after big cracks appeared in houses in the area. Five people were killed and two others had gone missing after two houses collapsed in Jumma village in the Dharchula area of Pithoragarh district recently. A team of experts, which visited the village for a geological survey after the incident, has advised authorities to immediately evacuate its residents and those of adjoining areas as they are still in danger.
At least 22 families of Jumma and adjoining hamlets are in danger with huge cracks appearing in the houses in which they live. Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Police had urged people to avoid travelling to the area till the weather becomes normal. Uttarakhand has been witnessing heavy rains for the past few days due to which there has been a rise in the water level of rivers.
