‘Didn’t know rains could cause such a disaster’

On Sunday, 52-year-old Raj Kishore Trivedi was selling prasad inside Kedarnath shrine like always. It had been raining since morning, but around 9.30am it started pouring particularly heavily, Nihi Sharma Sahani reports.

On Sunday, 52-year-old Raj Kishore Trivedi was selling prasad inside Kedarnath shrine like always. It had been raining since morning, but around 9.30am it started pouring particularly heavily.

“A cloudburst occurred and several devotees died. Thankfully, I was inside the temple when it happened. Many people inside also died due to short circuit. I

managed to run away but I injured my right leg. Later, the rescue team brought me to Dehradun for immediate help,” Trivedi told HT.

Trivedi’s family is safe but nothing remains of his shop of 25 years. “I could not save even a single item. I am now at the mercy of district administration.”

Bangu Bhai, a devotee who had come all the way from Surat, Gujarat, also had a narrow escape near Gangotri.

He and his wife were evacuated from a lodge and brought to the Doon hospital. “We didn’t know that rains could cause such a disaster. My son was left behind,” he said.