As relentless rains continue to batter Uttarakhand, two Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel tragically drowned in Bhimtal lake, Nainital district, while vacationing with their colleagues. The deceased have been identified as Prince Yadav (22) from Pathankot, Punjab, and Sahil Kumar (23) from Muzaffarpur, Bihar.
According to Circle Officer Pramod Shah, the duo was part of a group of eight IAF personnel, including four women, who were on a leisure trip to the region. The incident occurred as the group entered the swollen Musatal lake near Chafi village. Locals, along with police and SDRF personnel, struggled for nearly an hour to retrieve the bodies.
The drowning incident comes amid torrential monsoon rains that have wreaked havoc across Uttarakhand. Over 109 roads remain blocked due to landslides and waterlogging. The Chardham Yatra has been severely impacted, with the Yamunotri and Kedarnath highways rendered impassable due to debris and road collapses.
A massive landslide at Silai bend on the Yamunotri route swept away shelters for construction workers, leaving nine missing and destroying a 12-metre road segment. Similarly, the Kedarnath route is blocked between Sonprayag and Gaurikund.
Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to review the situation. Dhami, in a post on X, stated that Central agencies like the NDRF and ITBP are being mobilized to restore travel and provide relief.
Elsewhere, the Badrinath highway has been blocked by falling boulders, while multiple rivers — including the Ganga, Alaknanda, Mandakini, and Bhagirathi — are in spate, flowing just below danger marks. Alerts are being issued to residents near riverbanks, especially in Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, and Pithoragarh.
In Barkot, a lake formed by the overflowing Yamuna river has started inundating nearby homes and hotels. The administration has deployed excavators to unclog the lake outlet and prevent further flooding.
Meanwhile, food shortages have begun in Uttarkashi’s Geeth area due to the blocked Yamunotri highway. Local leaders are urging authorities to ensure the supply of essential goods to remote villages.
In Dehradun, severe waterlogging at Prince Chawk and near Doon Hospital has added to the city’s woes. The meteorological department has forecast continued rainfall across the region in the coming days, prompting officials to remain on high alert.
