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Feb 2005
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Heavy snowfall in Uttaranchal brings life to a standstill

     Uttarkashi: Life has come to a virtual standstill in the upper reaches of Uttaranchal following heavy snowfall. Pilgrims, on a visit to the shrine of Gangotri, situated at a height of 3,200 metres, have been hit hard as snow has blocked roads restricting movement. GS Maratolia, Superintendent of Police of Uttaranchal, said they have asked the authorities to arrange for helicopters to help out stranded people, as it was difficult for them to reach there. "There are people who are stranded in the shrine of Gangotri but it is very difficult for us to go there. We have asked the authorities to arrange for helicopters to help them out," said Maratolia. There have been reports of power shortage, lack of essential commodities in several areas. With snow cover as high as 14 feet in some places, parts of the state like Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, including pilgrimage sites, Kedarnath and Badrinath, are under a blanket of heavy snow. "There is no fodder for our animals. We have nothing to feed our children, they are ill. There is no electricity. It's been more than a month. Our stock of the food is over," said Meena, a local. Uttaranchal, which houses sacred pilgrimages of different religions including the world famous four Hindu pilgrimage destinations of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, lies in the western Himalayan ranges. Heavy snowfall has worsened the conditions. Army men working to provide relief material to the locals said there work was getting hindered due to blocked roads. "There has been so much of snowfall that life has come to a standstill. Our vehicles though carrying food for the locals cannot move due to bad weather. We are not able to transport them," said SK Pande, an official of Army Supply Depot.
- Feb 27, 2005

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