Death toll rises to 23 in Dehradun disaster, dog squad joins search operation
PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The death toll in the Dehradun disaster rose to 23 on Thursday after rescue teams recovered two more bodies. The officials stated that 16 people are still missing. Authorities also deployed a dog squad on Thursday to assist in locating those trapped under debris.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) recovered the body of a woman from Khushhalpur. The operation was part of the search for individuals who went missing on Tuesday when a tractor was swept away in the Asan river near Parwal. The other body was found in Sahastradhara area. Besides this, traffic from Mussoorie to Dehradun was also resumed after authorities conducted a safety audit of the Mussoorie road and Bailey Bridge before permitting traffic between Dehradun and Mussoorie late on Wednesday.
The officials informed that relief efforts continued in the affected villages. Around 300 food packets were delivered by helicopter to nearly 60 families in Chamrauli village. An air ambulance also shifted a seriously ill person from Phulet village to Memorial Hospital for treatment following the family’s decision. The administration also distributed gas cylinders and two months’ ration to residents of Karligad, Majyada, and Sera villages.
Dehradun district magistrate Savin Bansal directed officials to ensure arrangements for food, water, shelter and ration in the disaster-hit areas. The Public Works minister Satpal Maharaj also visited affected places on Thursday and directed the officials to repair all roads and bridges in time.
