Four more pilgrims found dead, death toll in Kedarnath landslide rises to five | Agra News

Dehradun: Five people returning from Kedarnath shrine died in a landslide on the stretch between Gaurikund and Sunday prayer on Monday evening. Teams from the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) recovered one body and rescued three pilgrims safely late on Monday night. On Tuesday morning, the bodies of four more victims, including three women, were found among the rubble.
Disaster management officer NK Rajwar said, “Rescue operations had to be halted on Monday evening due to bad weather and persistent rock falling from the hills. However, when efforts resumed on Tuesday morning, four more bodies were recovered.”
The deceased were identified as Durgabai Khapar, 50, from Madhya Pradesh; Titli Devi, 70, from Nepal; Saman Bai, 50, from Madhya Pradesh; and Bharat Bhai Niralal, 52, from Gujarat. The injured included Jivag Tiwari, 60, from Nepal; Manpreet Singh, 30, from West Bengal; and Chagan Lal, 45, from Madhya Pradesh.
This incident occurred in the same area where another landslide had washed away a 150-metre stretch of the highway on August 31, causing major disruption to the Kedarnath Yatra.
Rain-related disasters have hit Rudraprayag district badly, with 20 deaths reported this season alone. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), the total death toll from natural disasters in the state has risen to 72 in less than two months.