Landslide kills three in Uttarakhand, five still trapped

Three people were killed and five others were feared trapped under debris after a landslide struck Uttarakhand's Tehri district on Wednesday, police said.

Heavy rains have been pounding several parts of the hill state, triggering multiple landslides and disrupting normal life.

The landslide damaged a house and five shops, burying eight people under the debris. Three bodies have been recovered, while five people are still believed to be trapped, police said.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate P.R. Chauhan said a team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) had reached the site and rescue operations were underway.

The Pindar river in Tehri has been swollen due to the heavy rainfall, while several landslides have also been reported across the region, an official said.

Rainfall continued across Uttarakhand for the sixth consecutive day, causing waterlogging in several towns and cities and triggering landslides in hilly areas.

More than 80 link roads in Pauri district have either been damaged or closed to traffic because of the heavy rains and adverse weather conditions.

Overnight rainfall in Nainital, a popular tourist destination, also disrupted normal life. A landslide behind a school in the Mallital area prompted the district administration to advise schools to remain vigilant.

Authorities inspecting the Haldwani-Bhimtal road found that a large section of the road had become unstable and could collapse into the lake at any time. Traffic on the road has been stopped as a precautionary measure.