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36 killed in UP landslides

Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow

At least 36 persons were killed and over 50 were reported missing in recurrent landslides that rocked parts of the hill region in Uttar Pradesh over the past two days.

According to an official spokesman, "The worst affected is the Pithoragarh district, close to the Indo-Tibet border, where 26 persons perished as a result of house collapses that followed landslides triggered by incessant rains." Five persons died after being swept by the strong currents of the swollen Bhavra river in neighbouring Nainital district, he said.

Subhash Kumar, the divisional commissioner of Kumaon division, said over telephone, "Movement of traffic on several main roads in Kumaon was disrupted on account of the landslides." He was to leave for a remote village that was reported to have been completely swept away.

The tehsils of Munsiyari and Dharchula in the upper reaches of Pithoragarh were completely cut-off. Dharchula happens to be on the route of the annual Mansarovar 'yatra' that draws hundreds of pilgrims from different corners of the country.

Kumar said, "Even though relief operations are being carried out on a war footing, the possibility of more casualties cannot be ruled out as many villages have become inaccessible. The landslides have also damaged telephone lines thereby disrupting telecommunication links.

He admitted that the overflowing water of the Bhavra river was threatening to enter residential localities in Nainital . "We are trying to evacuate people to safer places," he said.

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