By ARUN PRATAP SINGH
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 20 Jul: Monsoon downpours under a red alert lashed Uttarakhand over the past 24 hours, severely disrupting life across the state and causing loss of life and property, with Kichha in district Udham Singh Nagar recording the highest rainfall of 130 mm. The heavy rainfall has triggered landslides, road accidents, lightning strikes, fallen trees and flooding in several districts, leaving three people dead and several others injured. Even markets and houses suffered damage while administration and relief agencies remained engaged in rescue and relief operations.
According to the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) report issued at 9:30 a.m. today, most of the damage during the red alert has occurred due to road accidents, landslides and lightning strikes. On the Pratapnagar-Lambgaon motor road in Tehri Garhwal, near Kholgarh, a car plunged into a ravine about 200 metres deep, killing the driver, 38-year-old Hoshiar Singh Panwar. On the Rishikesh-Kirtinagar motor road in the Pawki Devi area, a falling tree struck a moving car, leaving a person from Meerut critically injured. In the Darchula area of Pithoragarh district, a 52-year-old man grazing goats in the forest died after being struck by lightning. In Haldwani Transport Nagar, Nainital, a pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run by an unidentified vehicle. A car was also damaged in an accident in Tanakpur, Champawat. On the Sankarodi-Khakra-Pipli road in Rudraprayag, a pickup vehicle fell into a gorge, injuring three people including two women, and one buffalo was killed; all the injured have been admitted to hospital.
Landslides have affected the markets, houses and the shelters. Continuous rains caused water and debris to enter six to seven shops in Narayanbagad market in Chamoli district, causing losses to traders; National Highways and administration teams are on site clearing the debris. In the Kahkund area of the same district, a boulder fell on a cowshed, trapping animals beneath; in Gangolihat, Pithoragarh, a huge rock rolled into the rear portion of a residential building, though no casualties were reported in that incident.
Seven people stranded on an island formed in the middle of the river near Santla Devi temple in Dehradun were safely rescued by a joint team of SDRF, fire services, the 108 ambulance service and district administration. In Harshil in Uttarkashi, massive protective work is underway on a war footing to check Bank of the Bhagirathi River; wire-crate, boulder-packing and PCC works are being undertaken and affected families have been moved to safe locations.
Several districts recorded over 100 mm of rainfall during the past 24 hours. Kichha in Udham Singh Nagar recorded the highest rainfall at 130 mm, Maldevta in Dehradun 103.5 mm, Kapkot in Bageshwar 97 mm, Bangapani in Pithoragarh 92 mm, Narendra Nagar in Tehri 82.5 mm, Ukhimath in Rudraprayag 77 mm, Khansyu in Nainital 72 mm and Tanakpur in Champawat 63 mm. The Meteorological Department issued one red alert, nine orange alerts and six yellow alerts for the state over the 24-hour period and directed administrations in all districts to remain vigilant.
The heavy rain and landslides also affected Char Dham pilgrimage routes. The Rishikesh–Yamunotri national highway (NH-134) was blocked near Paligaad by debris, with clearance operations underway on a war footing. Traffic on Rishikesh–Badrinath, Rishikesh–Gangotri, Rishikesh–Kedarnath, Joshimath–Malari–Niti and other major highways remained normal. The SEOC has noted that the police, SDRF, NDRF and concerned departments are monitoring the situation across districts and relief and rescue operations have been intensified where damage has occurred.
