Cloudburst in Uttarkashi; Nine labourers missing

Uttarkashi, U'Khand: Around nine road construction workers are believed to have been carried away by a cloudburst near the Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarkashi district early Sunday, according to authorities.

The workers went missing after heavy rain and a cloudburst near Silai Bend in Barkot, on their way to the Yamunotri temple in Uttarkashi district, according to the Disaster Control Room here.

Barkot police station SHO Deepak Kathait said information about a cloudburst on the Yamunotri highway was received around midnight.

A team rushed to the spot and found that labourers engaged in road construction work lived there by putting up tents. They are feared to have been swept away by heavy rain.

So far eight to nine people are reported missing. All of them are of Nepali origin, he said, adding a search is underway.

The highway has been closed at many places, including Silai Bend, since the cloudburst.

There is also information about heavy rain damaging agricultural land in Kuthnaur village in the district.

The road near Ojri has also been completely damaged. The agricultural fields are filled with debris.

The Kupda Kunshala Trikhili motor bridge in Syanachatti is also in danger and the water level of the Yamuna has also risen following heavy rain.

With PTI inputs