Rudraprayag, Aug 4 : A devastating flash flood triggered by heavy rains swept away three shops near Daat Puliya, close to Gaurikund on the route to Kedarnath, resulting in the loss of four lives, with nine people reported missing, according to officials on Friday.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami promptly assessed the situation by visiting the Disaster Control room at the secretariat in Rudraprayag. He directed the authorities to expedite relief and rescue operations in the affected area. The Chief Minister also urged issuing alerts in regions at risk of flooding due to rising water levels in rivers and streams, and emphasized the need to evacuate people residing in landslide-prone areas.

As of now, four bodies have been recovered, and efforts are underway to locate the missing individuals, informed Rudraprayag District Magistrate Saurabh Gaharwar.

Among the missing are members of a family of ‘dandi-kandi’ (palanquin) operators from Nepal, who are known for ferrying pilgrims to the revered Himalayan temple.

The flash flood, caused by heavy rainfall, occurred around midnight on Friday, sweeping away the shops located along the banks of the turbulent Mandakini river. Gaurikund, which is about 16 km from the Himalayan temple, bore the brunt of the disaster.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have launched relief and rescue operations, but the process is being hindered by continuous heavy rains and falling boulders from the hillsides.

Earlier, the administration released a list of missing persons, which unfortunately included some who have been confirmed deceased in this tragic incident.

The individuals still unaccounted for have been identified as Vinod (26), Mulayam (25), Ashu (23), Priyanshu Chamola (18), Ranbir Singh (28), Amar Bohra, his wife Anita Bohra, their daughters Radhika and Pinki Bohra, and sons Prithvi Bohra (7), Jatil (6), and Vakil (3), officials stated.