Uttarakhand rains: 1 killed, 5 injured in landslide on Kedarnath National Highway

RUDRAPRAYAG: A 38-year-old man lost his life and five others sustained injuries when a landslide struck the Kedarnath National Highway in Rudraprayag district.The incident occurred near Kund, in proximity to Guptkashi, where falling debris hit a vehicle transporting pilgrims from Chhattisgarh, officials confirmed on Friday.Officials reported that rescue teams from the administration and Station Disaster Response Force (SDRF) immediately responded to the scene to conduct relief operations.The casualties were extracted from the vehicle and transported to Augustmuni Hospital for treatment.Among the injured, two individuals suffered severe injuries, whilst three others escaped with minor wounds.The authorities identified the deceased as Rajesh Singh Rawat, the vehicle's driver from Lambgaon in Tehri Garhwal district.At the time of the incident, he was transporting pilgrims from Chhattisgarh to Kedarnath.The injured individuals, ranging in age from 19 to 25 years, hail from the Durg district of Chhattisgarh.Officials advised against travelling to mountainous areas over the weekend due to the risk of severe weather, including strong winds and hailstorms. "Extreme weather may cause strong winds, rain, and hailstorms in J&K on May 30 and 31; in Himachal on May 31 and June 1; and in Uttarakhand on May 30, 31, and June 1. Travel to these regions should be avoided," said Krishna Mishra, scientist at the IMD.