VIDEO | 1 dead, 3 rescued as building collapses near subsidence-hit Joshimath

One person has died and three have been rescued while a few others might still be trapped under the wreckage of a building that collapsed near the subsidence-affected region of Joshimath in Chamoli district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, news agencies reported. The incident took place late evening on Tuesday, August 15, in Helang village, situated along the Badrinath highway connecting Pipalkoti and Joshimath.

Collapse of two-storey house

The Kotwali Joshimath police station informed the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) regarding the unfortunate event in which a two-storey house, located adjacent to a crusher unit on the banks of the Alaknanda River, crumbled.

Rescue efforts

Promptly responding to the alert, the SDRF team arrived at the scene. The SDRF managed to successfully rescue three people from the debris. They immediately transferred them to a nearby medical facility.

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Unfortunately, one individual succumbed to the incident on-site. The deceased victim's body was retrieved from the wreckage and handed over to the district police, media reports said.

Ongoing search efforts

As per reports, seven labourers were inside the house at the time of the deadly incident. Efforts are underway to locate any additional trapped individuals.

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Notably, Uttarakhand witnessed a series of rain-related incidents during the current monsoon season. According to official figures cited by media outlets, the state recorded 52 fatalities and 37 injuries due to these incidents.

VIDEO | Three people were rescued while a few others are still feared trapped under debris after a building collapsed at Helang near subsidence-hit Joshimath in Chamoli district yesterday. Rescue and relief operations are underway.

READ: https://t.co/kAbYOXOVJW pic.twitter.com/0UGOnWA4X8 — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 16, 2023

Responding to the gravity of the situation, Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami directed the deployment of both SDRF and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel to areas severely impacted by rain-related disasters.

Monsoon havoc in Uttarakhand

Unrelenting heavy rains during the monsoon season triggered landslides and flash floods across various locations in Uttarakhand. Parts of the Badrinath National Highway within Chamoli district have been blocked, primarily due to substantial rainfall.

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The disruption has taken place at multiple locations, including Pipalkoti, Gadora, Navodaya Vidyalaya Pipalkoti, Gulabkoti, Pagalnala, and Vishnuprayag areas.

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