At least 15 people have been killed and several injured after a power transformer exploded on the banks of the Alaknanda River in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on 19 July. Uttarakhand Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Kumar told ANI that an outpost in charge of Pipalkoti was among the persons killed. The dead included three police inspectors and three home guards, the official said. The initial investigation revealed that there was current on the railing. Additional Director General of Police, Uttarakhand, V Murugesan said, “Around 15 people including a police sub-inspector & five home guards have died. Investigation is underway. Prima Facie reveals that there was current on the railing and the investigation will reveal the further details."
CM Pushkar Signgh Dhami said that the injured are being referred to higher centre and are being shifted to AIIMS Rishikesh via helicopter.On the incident, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, said, "It is a sad incident. District administration, police, and SDRF have reached the spot. The injured are being referred to higher centre and are being shifted to AIIMS Rishikesh via helicopter. Orders have been given to conduct a Magisterial inquiry." Meanwhile, Incessant rainfall in the hilly and plain areas in Uttarakhand for the past nine days has resulted in an increase in water levels of the rivers and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been told to remain on high alert, authorities said on Wednesday. As per SDRF officials, nine days of constant rain in Uttarakhand's hilly and plain regions caused the rivers' water levels to rise, subsequently, the SDRF personnel have been instructed to maintain a high degree of alertness. SDRF Commandant, Manikant Mishra, instructed various SDRF teams to be on high alert amid these circumstances.