At least 1800 people, many of them pilgrims, are stranded after a landslide hit a highway near a Hindu temple site in India’s northern mountainous state of Uttarakhand.
The landslide triggered by pre-monsoon rains blocked the highway to the Badrinath temple, one of the main Hindu shrines in the region, leading to many vehicles being stuck on both sides.
“Around 1800 people have been affected by the landslide. Authorities have made provisions for the lodging, food and drinking water of the people in the area,” state official Ashish Joshi said on Saturday.
Another state official, Vinod Kumar Suman, said there were no reports of deaths or injuries.
“The pilgrims and tourists have been asked to stay at their places till the road gets cleared.
“Road clearing teams have been at work, removing the debris. The route will be fully opened for traffic with operations Saturday,” he added.
Tens of thousands of Hindu pilgrims visit the temples in the Himalayan state every year.
In 2013, heavy monsoon rains triggered devastating floods and landslides in the region, leaving more than 5700 dead or missing and presumed dead.
Source: Landslide strands 13,000 Indian pilgrims | Perth Now
No comments:
Post a Comment