Uttarkashi/Uttarakhand: A temporary bridge collapsed after a sudden surge in water washed away two and stranded 30 to 40 pilgrims here on Friday, Asian News International reported.
The incident happened around 8 to 9 kilometres away from Gangotri on the Gomukh footpath when the bridge across a river at Devgad saw a sudden surge.
Receiving a distress alert, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) dispatched a team to help and rescue the stranded pilgrims. The SDRF said that 16 pilgrims were saved and that the rescue operation is still ongoing.
On Thursday, the SDRF rescued ten youngsters who were stranded on an island near the Robbers Cave in Dehradun. SDRF officials informed us that they received information about people trapped on an island near the Robbers Cave or Guchhupani.
On receiving the information, the SDRF rescue team, along with sub-inspector Laxmi Rawat from post-Sahastradhara, immediately left for the site of the incident with the necessary rescue equipment.
An SDRF team led by sub-inspector Laxmi Rawat from post-Sahastradhara reached the site as soon as they could and brought ten stranded people to safety using ropes and braving strong river currents.
Last week, Haridwar witnessed heavy rains causing floods in many areas, and water levels rose in the Ganga River, leading to vehicles floating and roads inundated.
Local authorities warned residents and visitors against bathing in Ganga, citing hazardous conditions in which the river is.