[Watch] Uttarakhand Floods: Kathgodam Bridge Caves In, Elephant Stranded In Flood Water Rescued

Nainital: A total of 16 people were reported dead as heavy rain battered Uttarakhand for third day on Tuesday.

Several bridges, roads and railway tracks caved in and Army has been engaged to rescue and relocation of people from the affected areas.

A portion of the railway line connecting Kathgodam and Delhi near Gaula river in Haldwani was damaged earlier amid heavy rainfall in the region.

In another incident, an elephant stranded in the middle of a flooded Gaula river in Nainital district managed to swim to safety. The elephant was initially struggling to cross the river but the forest staff managed to divert it and send it back to the jungle.

Uttarakhand: In a viral video, an elephant was seen stranded on a piece of land in a raging Gaula river, between Halduchaur and Lalkuan. It was later directed towards forest by Forest Department officials.

(Screenshots from the viral video) pic.twitter.com/yR325BxAnp

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2021

Meanwhile, Prime Minister and Home Minister have been briefed on the situation. Three (Army) helicopters to be deployed for rescue operations, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was quoted by ANI.

Dhami conducted an aerial survey and took stock of the situation.

#WATCH | A portion of the railway line connecting Kathgodam and Delhi near Gaula river in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani was damaged earlier today amid heavy rainfall in the region. pic.twitter.com/onYhSwhdlK

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2021

Check the video of the elephant stranded on the island here: