Rudraprayag, Aug. 29 -- Amidst relentless heavy rains and a devastating cloudburst in Rudraprayag district, authorities have evacuated over 70 residents from peril-stricken villages.

The Mandakini River, swollen beyond its banks, surged dangerously in the Kedarnath and Mandakini valleys, worsening the already dire situation.

A cloudburst in the Vasu Kedar area, though sparing the village major damage, added to the mounting crisis confronting the mountainous region.

In a self-made video, SP Akshay Prahlad Konde said, "We have been receiving 3-hour-long alerts of heavy rain in Rudraprayag. Heavy rain occurred in the Kedarnath and Mandakini Valley, causing the water level of the Mandakini River to rise. Additionally, there was information...