DEHRADUN/ALMORA: Uttarakhand’s director general of police (DGP) Ashok Kumar said on Sunday that over 65,000 people were saved from getting caught in the rain-induced disaster that ravaged the state on October 18 and 19.
“After receiving the weather alert 24 hours in advance, police stopped at least 65,000 people – 48,000 in Garhwal and 17,000 in Kumaon -- from going to the hills and saved them from getting trapped in the disaster,” Kumar said.
He added that the death toll due to the rain-induced disaster in the state currently stood at 76, with 14 people still missing, including eight trekkers -- six of whom had gone trekking in Bageshwar and two in Uttarkashi.
Kumar, who was in Nainital to take stock of the ongoing relief and rescue operations, said police have evacuated 48,000 people and rescued nearly 10,000 –9,500 in the worst-affected Kumaon region and 500 in Garhwal -- in a rescue operation that is still ongoing.
Out of the 76 deaths, 59 are in Kumaon and 17 in Garhwal, the DGP said, adding, “Among the 14 missing persons, six were either washed away or buried alive in debris.”
He added that rescue operations are still ongoing at certain places such as Gunji, Darma valley, Pindari glacier and Ramgarh in Nainital district. Meanwhile, TV cricket commentator Charu Sharma was among the trekkers who got stuck amid the fierce rains. He was taking a trip to the Pindari Glacier in Bageshwar district. After the weather alert was sounded, he was forced to return halfway.
