Heavy rains batter Uttarakhand

Dehradun Sep 1 (IANS) Heavy rains continued to batter most parts of the hill state of Uttarakhand on Friday weather officials said.

Rains lashed the state capital Dehradun on Thursday evening leaving the city inundated.

On Wednesday the weatherman had predicted heavy to very heavy shower for the next 48 hours.

The regional Met office has issued an alert following a warning that the five districts of Udhamsingh Nagar Paudi Haridwar Nainital could receive rainfall between 65-200 mm in the next 24 hours.

Many roads in the hilly areas were blocked due to landslides.

The Yamunotri highway has been completely blocked due to the falling of rocks near Syana Chatti in the Yamuna valley.

Some five dozen locals and pilgrims were stranded and efforts are underway to rescue them.

--IANS
md/ksk