THREE people drowned in Uttarakhand and another three killed in Himachal Pradesh when their vehicle fell into a gorge after skidding off a wet road, as rain continued to wreak havoc in the region. Thirteen districts in Uttar Pradesh have been flooded, with major rivers like Ganga, Yamuna and Betwa flowing above the danger mark at several places. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Monday conducted an aerial survey in Sawai Madhopur district to assess the damage caused by flood-like situation following heavy rainfall.

 

In Uttarkhand, one person was swept away on Monday by strong currents of the Bhakhra stream near Haldwani. Another two had drowned in a swollen stream near Bhujiyaghat on Haldwani road on Sunday. Two shops were buried under boulders and debris falling from the hillside in Rudraprayag district in the wake of a landslide overnight, the State emergency operation centre here said. Heavy overnight rains continued in Dehradun on Monday with the district administration closing schools and aanganwadi centres for the day. Major rivers in the State were in spate, including the Ganga in Haridwar and Kali. In Himachal’s Mandi, three people were killed when their vehicle fell into a gorge. Police identified the deceased as Devrat, Mangal Chand, and Ashu.

 

The incident, in which two more were injured, occurred late Sunday night when the vehicle skidded off the narrow road and ended up in a deep gorge near a Saini drain between Magrugla and Majhwal. All five were returning home from Shankardehra, where they had been for the apple season. In Rajasthan, Sharma flew over Chakeri, Jadawata, Ajanoti, Mainpura, Dhanauli and Surwal villages, and inspected the damaged Bodal culvert in Khandar, officials said. The State has been predicted to witness heavy to moderate rain in some northeastern districts for next two to three days. In Himachal Pradesh, 310 roads, including a national highway, were closed for vehicular moved in on Monday as rain continued to lash parts of the State.