16 killed as rain lashes Uttarakhand, roads, houses got washed away

As many as 16 people have died in Uttarakhand so far as incessant rain continued to lash various parts of the state, razing houses, damaging roads and several people were trapped in rubble following cloudbursts and landslides. Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that 11 deaths were reported in the state on Tuesday as he asked people not to panic and assured them of all necessary steps to evacuate those stranded.

Dhami said three helicopters of the Indian Army will soon arrive to assist in relief and rescue operations underway in the state. Two of these helicopters will be sent to Nainital and one to the Garhwal region to rescue people stranded in different areas, he said. He also reiterated his appeal to Chardham pilgrims to stay put where they are and not to resume their journey until the weather improves.

"Due to heavy rains, the rescue team is facing difficulty but we will rescue everyone. The metrological department has also said that from today the rain will be less. We appeal to all the people to not travel till the situation is normal," he added.

The Uttarakhand chief minister said that the damage caused by the rain is being assessed as he admitted that farmers have been hit hard by the incessant showers. He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to him on the phone to take stock of the situation and assured him of all help.