Dehradun: Heavy rainfall has caused widespread destruction in hilly areas of Kumaon and Garhwal regions in Uttarakhand since Tuesday night. Significant damage has been reported, including the closure of the Kotdwar-Pauri highway for 11 hours due to debris near Dugadda. In the Reethasahib area of Champawat district, Talladesh and Ladhia valleys have been severely affected, with reports of four culverts washed away in Machhiyad village and the complete destruction of a bridge construction site on the Tanakpur-Jauljibi road.

The closure of various roads, including the under-construction Helang Marwari bypass in Joshimath where a loader vehicle was buried under boulders, has compounded transportation challenges. Debris entering nine houses in Sangrur village and the loss of four footbridges and two motorcycles in Machhiyad village have added to the devastation in Champawat. The district received 200 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, leading to closures of key highways like Pithoragarh-Tanakpur and disruptions in essential services due to road closures.

Public Works Department officials have mobilized over 200 JCB machines across the state to clear roads swiftly. Despite efforts, negligence in opening closed roads in Pithoragarh's Bans-Amlaghat led to the tragic death of a young girl who could not reach the hospital in time for treatment. The Meteorological Department has issued warnings for heavy rain in ten districts of Uttarakhand, with an orange alert in place for Pithoragarh and Bageshwar districts due to anticipated very heavy rainfall.

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