By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 21 Aug: The heavy rains that lashed parts of Uttarakhand on Friday and Saturday have wreaked havoc in the state and particularly in Dehradun district. So far, 8 people are reported to have died due to the disaster in Maldevata’s Sarkhet, while 13 people are still said to be missing. Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Kumar along with MLA Pritam Singh Panwar, the Tehri DM, the DIG, Garhwal Zone, the Dehradun SSP and officials of the SDRF conducted on-site inspection of disaster-affected areas in and around Kumalda, Sarkhet and Maldevta. During this visit to the area, DGP Kumar sought detailed information about the rescue and relief work being carried out by the police and SDRF teams. Kumar also met Manoj Payal, who was the first person on Friday night to dial the Emergency Helpline, 112, and informed the police and the administration about the landslides and flood.
It was his call in response to which the local police and SDRF had reached the spot. Payal along with the local people, had also cooperated with the police and SDRF in the rescue work. The DGP thanked Manoj for his alertness, courage and cooperation. He said that he and the local people and the police and SDRT teams would be felicitated for their excellent rescue work.
During the inspection, the DGP directed the SDRF to arrange for alternate connecting routes for the villagers at the earliest and continue the search for the missing persons. Thirteen persons were still said to be missing.
It may be recalled that several houses were buried under the debris caused by the torrential rains early Saturday morning, and following this, a search operation was launched for the missing persons, which is still continuing led by the SDRF and local police. Apart from this, the relatives of people missing are also engaged in the search since yesterday.
Yesterday, SSP, Dehradun, Dalip Singh Kunwar and DM Sonika camped at the disaster sites and personally supervised the rescue operations.
In addition, some persons were also reported missing in village Gawad of district Tehri. Medical facilities and food items are being sent by the district administration of Tehri to such areas.
263 roads blocked due to heavy rains in U’khand
By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 21 Aug: Dehradun, Tehri and Pauri were the three most affected districts due to heavy rains and cloudbursts that occurred on Friday and Saturday in the state. While more than 8 deaths are reported to have taken place, 13 are missing in Dehradun and more in Tehri, while 12 are reported to be injured. Hundreds of persons have been rendered homeless as their houses collapsed due to the rains. In all the three districts, the rivers and rivulets are in spate due to cloudbursts in different areas.
More than 263 roads are reportedly blocked across the state due to landslides and collapse of bridges. More than 50 residential buildings have reportedly been damaged in the affected districts. There has been massive erosion of agricultural land. Of the 263 roads that are closed for the traffic as on Sunday afternoon, 105 are PWD roads, 13 are State Highways, 144 PMGSY roads as well as one National Highway. However, teams of NDRF, SDRF and local police are engaged in relief work and also working on getting most of these roads open for traffic at the earliest and meanwhile arranging alternate routes.
