Heavy rains create havoc in U'khand, Chardham Yatra suspended

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Three jawans of fire services were among six persons killed as torrential rains continued to pound Uttarakhand on Saturday triggering landslides and flash floods which flattened homes and stranded hundreds of pilgrims with the Chardham Yatra coming to a grinding halt.

The Garhwal region bore the brunt of nature's fury with the government sounding a high alert in the state after the met department's warning of very heavy rains.

Two children were killed in a house collapse at Kararnprayag area of Chamoli district early on Saturday, said sources in the Disaster Management and Mitigation Centre (DMMC) here.

Another child was washed away in the flash floods at Pokhri area of the district where landslides continue to hit blocking highways leading to Badrinath.

Hundreds of Badrinath pilgrims were stranded at various places at Patalganga, Lambagar and Birahi due to fresh landslips.

In Uttarkashi district, flash floods hit several low lying areas creating havoc in the district.

At least three jawans of the fire brigade department were killed at Gangori area even as Chardham yatra to Gangotri and Yamunotri remained suspended for the second day on Saturday.

In Gangori area of Uttarkashi, Bhagirathi is flowing above the danger level with people being evacuated to safer areas.

Nearly 30 homes were washed away in the floods with the Gangori bridge also collapsing. "We have now reports that three jawans of the fire brigade were killed in Gangori," said state disaster management minister Yashpal Arya.

The yatra for Kedarnath shrine was also suspended, the sources said. Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna was monitoring the situation and has asked the concerned authorities to launch rescue and relief operation in the disaster-hit areas.