Sniffer dogs mobilised to search for missing

A search operation has been intensified for those pilgrims who went missing in a landslide at Gaurikunda of Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand State of India four days ago. The landslide swept away three hotels owned by Nepalis in the area.     

The Indian Police earlier retrieved three bodies, all belonging to males, from the landslide debris and they have been identified as those of Tek Bahadur Kami, Prakash Kami and Devi Kami from Manma of Kalikot district.     

According to the Nepal Embassy in New Delhi, India, 11 Nepali are still missing in the disaster and the number may go up to 13.  Nepal Police Senior Superintendent Uma Prasad Chaturvedi from the Embassy told the RSS that Indian security had mobilised trained dogs in the search operations since Sunday.     

The Embassy is closely coordinating with the Indian authorities to support the rescue efforts. However, the ongoing heavy rainfall and rising water levels in the Mandakini River are making rescue operations challenging.     

As SSP Chaturvedi said, Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud has already talked to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and other officials there, requesting to expedite the rescue efforts.     

A noticeable number of Nepali people have been residing in the area as horse ride operators, hoteliers and workers for a long time. All those missing are from Jumla, according to the Embassy.