Dehradun tragedy: Toll mounts to 20, 13 missing

DEHRADUN: The toll in the district following rain devastation earlier this week has gone up to 20 with 13 people missing, as per data shared by Dehradun district administration. However, this does not include unidentified bodies as district officials said that those might not be disaster-related deaths. As per information shared by Uttarakhand Disaster Management Authority, "four unidentified bodies had been recovered till Thursday afternoon".

The district administration in Dehradun has ordered a high-level probe into resorts that have come up in Maldevta area in the recent years.

Officials said district magistrate Savin Bansal recommended a probe into constructions along the river bank. An official pointed out "that in one case, unauthorised retaining wall built by a resort had diverted water from Song to cause major damage to villages." "Action will be taken against owners who have been identified and any dept found to be in collusion with them," official said.

Meanwhile, search operations continued in all the disaster-hit areas Thursday. A team with a dog squad and locals in Majhada tried to trace three missing people suspected to be buried under rubble.

"So far, there has been no success. Even though it didn't rain as heavily last night, we were worried debris might pour in. No search op took place till late morning while it was still raining. It resumed later in day," said Rakesh Singh, Karligad village head.