Garhwal Post Bureau
Almora, 1 Sep: Amidst continuous rainfall in the hills, a tragic incident occurred in Almora district where debris entered a house, leading to its collapse and the death of three members of the same family. Teams of SDRF, police, fire service and administration reached the spot and carried out a rescue operation, recovering all the three bodies from the rubble.
District Disaster Management Officer Vineet Pal said that around 4 am the district control room received information through number 112 that debris had entered a house in Vadyuda village and some people were trapped inside. Rescue teams were immediately dispatched. He informed that elderly members of the family present in one part of the house survived safely, while three others sleeping in an adjoining room were buried under the debris. The victims included the daughter‑in‑law of the family, her son and daughter.
Heavy debris from the rear side broke through the wall and entered the house, trapping the three, who died on the spot. The administration’s teams launched a rescue operation and retrieved the bodies. Pal confirmed that the operation was completed and teams of SDRF, fire service, police and administration remained present at the site.
Circle Officer Ranikhet, SDM, Tehsildar and other officials also reached the spot to supervise relief and rescue work. Two ambulances were deployed. Despite debris blocking the road, rescue teams were sent on foot with necessary equipment. Three JCB machines were later pressed into service to clear the debris, reopen the road and restore access.
The administration has initiated the process of compensation for the bereaved family as per rules, with efforts to complete it by evening. The victims were identified as Prema Devi (42), wife of Rajendra Ram, Kalpana Arya (19), daughter of Rajendra Ram, and Manish Kumar (18), son of Rajendra Ram. Another member, Gulab Ram, who was sleeping in a room outside the house, managed to escape safely.
The incident occurred in the Someshwar police station area of Almora district. SDRF teams, coordinating with local residents, fire service and district police, conducted intensive search and rescue operations at the site. The administration has described the situation as normal but has also appealed to residents in the hill areas to remain alert in view of continuing rainfall, landslides and debris flow.
