By ARUN PRATAP SINGH
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 20 Jul: The Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand has been suspended as a precautionary measure in view of incessant heavy rainfall, landslides at several places along the pilgrimage routes and the red and orange weather alerts issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). According to the officials, the decision to temporarily suspend the Yatra was taken with the safety of pilgrims as the top priority. The administration has directed that the pilgrims should not be allowed to proceed further until the routes are assessed and declared completely safe.
The suspension has been announced at a time when the state is experiencing widespread heavy rainfall and the IMD has forecast heavy to extremely heavy rain in several parts of Uttarakhand. The IMD’s district-level forecast issued today has predicted that heavy to very heavy rainfall, with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places, is possible in parts of Dehradun, Tehri and Haridwar, while heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely at isolated places in the remaining districts. The weather conditions have increased the risk of landslides, falling boulders, flash floods, rapid surface runoff and waterlogging in vulnerable and low-lying areas.
Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swaroop has directed the District Magistrates concerned and the other related officials to ensure that the pilgrims present at different points along the Char Dham routes are accommodated at safe locations wherever roads are blocked or movement has become hazardous. The authorities have been instructed to allow the pilgrims to resume their onward journey only after the routes are thoroughly assessed and declared safe. Officials have also been asked to ensure that timely and accurate information reaches the general public and pilgrims through the media and other communication channels.
The administration has clarified that the temporary suspension of the Yatra is a precautionary measure taken solely in view of the prevailing weather conditions and the condition of the pilgrimage routes. It has reiterated that the decision has been taken with the safety of pilgrims as the highest priority and that the Yatra will resume once the routes are safe and conditions improve. Pilgrims have been urged not to pay heed to rumours and to rely only on official information and advisories issued by the administration. They have also been asked to follow the directions of the concerned district administrations until weather and road conditions return to normal.
The heavy rain has affected several routes and areas in the Garhwal region. In the Yamunotri Valley, continuous rainfall since midnight resulted in the Yamunotri Highway being blocked at several locations, including Syana Chatti, after debris and the stones fell on the road. The continuing rain has also hampered the work to clear the route and restore traffic. Boulder falls were also reported on the Karnaprayag-Simli road.
In Narayanbagar, the Tharalibagar market area has also been once again affected after debris entered the locality and disrupted the traffic on the highway. Border Roads Organisation (BRO) had earlier cleared the debris and reopened the highway this morning. The debris again brought down with the rain entered several shops, while part of the government ration godown was also affected. Debris spread across the highway near the hospital and in the Jeet Singh Market area resulted in waterlogging. Power supply in Karnaprayag has also remained disrupted since last night.
In Rishikesh and the adjoining areas, intermittent drizzle has been reported under a heavily overcast sky. The Ganga at present is flowing below the warning level. Against the warning mark of 339.50 metres, the water level was recorded at 338.34 metres. However, the continuing rainfall and the possibility of further precipitation have kept the authorities on alert, particularly in areas along rivers, streams and other vulnerable locations.
The IMD’s Flash Flood Guidance Cell has also warned of the possibility of sudden flooding in several parts of Uttarakhand during the next 24 hours. According to the weather warning, rainfall may lead to a rapid increase in surface runoff in areas where the soil is already saturated. The possibility of waterlogging in low-lying areas has also been highlighted. The warning assumes added significance in the mountainous terrain where prolonged rainfall can weaken slopes and trigger landslides, mudslides and falling rocks.
In view of the heavy rainfall warning and concerns over the safety of students and children, schools up to Class 12 and Anganwadi centres remained closed in 11 districts today. The districts are Dehradun, Pauri, Tehri, Rudraprayag, Haridwar, Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar, Pithoragarh, Chamoli, Champawat and Uttarkashi. The respective District Magistrates had last evening issued orders for the closure of educational institutions and Anganwadi centres in view of the weather alert and the forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall.
The authorities have advised residents, tourists and pilgrims to exercise extreme caution and avoid unnecessary movement in vulnerable areas during the period of intense rainfall. The officials have also been directed to maintain close watch over landslide-prone locations and routes and to ensure that road-clearing and emergency response arrangements remain ready to deal with any situation.
With heavy to extremely heavy rainfall forecast in parts of the state and the possibility of flash floods, rapid surface runoff and further landslides, the administration has appealed to pilgrims and tourists to remain patient and avoid taking risks. The authorities have reiterated that movement on the Char Dham routes will be permitted only after the roads and surrounding areas are found to be safe and the pilgrimage will be resumed once weather and route conditions become conducive for safe travel.
Heavy rains, landslides leave several dead & injured in U’khand, widespread damage reported
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.
