On Friday, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, whose chopper could not take off due to inclement weather, apprised the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi that bodies lying on surface in the disaster-affected areas have been cremated with full
honours. “Now, we are focusing on excavating the bodies lying under the debris.” After listening, Sonia asked him to begin prayers in Kedarnath as soon as possible.
As per schedule, CM Bahuguna was supposed to disburse cheques among the relatives of missing persons at Guptkashi in Rudraprayag district, but the chopper could not take off due to inclement weather on Friday.
He had made his schedule despite weather alert for heavy showers in the State over 48 hours. Now, he has decided to visit the affected areas on Saturday.
Heavy rainfall was reported in various parts of the State, especially in the Kumaon and Garhwal regions,
leading to landslides and rising water levels in several rivers. Heavy rains were reported in the Udham Singh Nagar and Champawat districts in Kumaon region as well as in Dehradun.
Separate instances of landslides triggered by rainfall in the Munsyari area of Pithoragarh district is learnt to have caused damage to six houses in two villages.
The rains have seen all major rivers flowing through the State register an increase in water levels, including Ganga, Yamuna, Koshi and Sharda.