By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 1 Aug: At least 12 persons died while several others have been injured in different incidents in Uttarakhand since late last night due to heavy rains. Among the dead are three members of a family in Bhilangana Block in district Tehri. A cloudburst was reported in Badi Lincholi along the trek to Kedarnath in district Rudraprayag late last evening as a result of which over 250 pilgrims were stranded and rescued with the help of SDRF and other agencies, and also with the help of choppers. The Yatra has been put on hold for now.
The rain that started late in the evening continued through the night at many places, wreaking havoc. Another incident of cloudburst was also reported in Nautar Tok in district Tehri.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today conducted aerial survey of disaster affected Lincholi and, later, also met the affected persons in district Tehri as well as district Rudraprayag. The areas affected by heavy rains since last evening include district Dehradun, where one person was swept away in Nalapani, district Bageshwar and district Nainital.
Among the dead in late last night’s incidents include three members of a family due to a cloudburst in Nautar Tok in Bhilangana Block of district Tehri. Continuous rain and landslides have caused massive destruction there. Tilwara bridge on Ghansali-Tilwara Road in district Tehri has also been swept away. Heavy rains in Uttarakhand on Wednesday disrupted life at many places. Twelve people are reported to have died in different incidents, while six are reported to be injured and four people are reportedly missing. The search for them was still underway as this report was being filed.
A high alert has been issued in Kedarghati. The water level of Mandakini River has crossed the danger mark due to cloudburst near Lincholi between Jangalchatti to Bhimbali on the Kedarnath trek route. Keeping safety in mind, the district administration evacuated the hotels and lodges along with the markets in Gaurikund and Sonprayag late last night. About 30 metres of the Taptkund and Kedarnath trek route has been washed away. As a precaution, 200 people have been accommodated in the GMVN guest house and the police post. In addition, rockfall has also been reported between Gaurikund and Sonprayag. The hot spring of Gaurikund has been washed away due to heavy rains. Two bridges have also been washed away near Rambada. The Yatra has been stopped after the cloudburst caused massive devastation on the Kedarnath trekking route. In Badi Lincholi, the NDRF and DDRF jawans were busy evacuating the devotees. From the Kedarnath trek to Gaurikund and Sonprayag Lincholi, the maximum damage has been caused by the disaster. The stranded pilgrims had to be rescued by helicopters.
District Magistrate Dr Saurabh Gaharwar reported that it has been raining heavily in Kedarnath Dham. He claimed that all the yatris are safe. The administration had also evacuated the hotel in Sonprayag well in time and that the district administration is keeping an eye on every incident.
On the other hand, three people of the same family died due to a cloudburst in Nautad Tok of Bhilangana block in Tehri. District Disaster Management Officer Brijesh Bhatt shared that a hotel was washed away in Nautad Tok after which the hotel owner, Bhanu Prasad (50), his wife Neelam Devi (45) and son Vipin (28), went missing. During the rescue operation, the bodies of Bhanu and his wife Neelam have been recovered 100 meters from the spot. Vipin was found injured and was being brought to AIIMS in Rishikesh, but he breathed his last on the way.
A woman is reported to have died due to debris falling on a house in Rohida in Gairsain, while two people are missing since collapse of their house in Belchori of Chamoli.
Even Dehradun was not spared from the fury of nature. Heavy rain that started here last evening continued till well past midnight, flooding the roads and some colonies as well. The road in Nalapani got so flooded that two persons were washed away and went missing. The body of one of has been recovered, while the search is on for the other missing person.
The rivers and streams of the city including Rispana are in spate. Flood-like conditions developed in the low-lying areas situated on the riverbanks by night in the city and many colonies were flooded. Due to rain, electric current suddenly spread to the tree under a pole surrounded by electric wires near the ISBT. Saroj, a resident of Kanwali Road, and Pradeep resident of Landhaura, who were waiting for a bus under the tree, were caught in the electric current. They were taken to the hospital where doctors declared them brought dead.
Loss of life and property was also reported from Kumaon division due to heavy rains since last evening. Shubham (14) son of Santosh was swept away in Saryu in Bageshwar district. In a different incident in Haldwani, Rizwan (8), resident of Indiranagar, Haldwani, was swept away in the drain. Laalram (48) died due to a stone falling from the hill in Udiari Palladhar of Dhari block. Apart from this, three people were reported to have been rescued.
