Heavy rains wreak havoc in many parts of U’khand, 2 die in Doon

By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 11 Jul: Heavy rains have wrecked havoc in many parts of Uttarakhand even as the weather forecast predicts more rains over next 48 hours. Landslides are being reported from many places in Uttarakhand due to incessant rains since last few days. While two persons are reported to have died when a boulder fell on their vehicle in Dehradun district, 4 are reported to have died in district Uttarkashi on Gangotri Highway also when boulders fell on a vehicle. The Chief Minister himself took to the streets to assess the situation, while DM Dehradun Sonika also toured many flooded areas of Dehradun today and directed the officials to take steps to clear the water logging. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has expressed shock and grief over death of four passengers on Gangotri Highway. In a tweet, he expressed his condolence in this regard.
Last evening, due to land slide in Mohand Region on Dehradun Delhi Highway, traffic was obstructed for over two hours forcing many vehicles to return to Dehradun via Haridwar.
Passengers’ vehicles were parked near Gangnani in district Uttarkashi due to the closure of the Gangotri Highway late at night, when suddenly a landslide occurred and a huge amount of debris from the hill fell on three vehicles including a tempo travel. Three vehicles were buried in the debris as a result of which four people including a woman died. All the passengers are reported to be from Madhya Pradesh. At the same time, seven injured have been sent to the hospital so far.
On the other hand, on the opening of the highway this morning, one SDRF team also reached the spot. BRO officer, Major VS Veenu said that landslides occurred at seven places on the Gangotri Highway in an area of 20 km between Bhatwadi and Gangnani and the road was opened after hard work amid heavy rains all night. Heavy rains are continuing in the district.
The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for heavy rains in Uttarakhand. Schools have been ordered to be closed in many places in the state.
The Gangotri National Highway is blocked ahead of Bhatwadi near Captain Bridge, Helgugad, Sunagar, Gangnani, Sukkhi Nala and Harshil after incessant rains. Due to which many pilgrims and vehicles are stranded around these routes. Roads have been damaged in many places. Police-administration and BRO teams are constantly trying to open them.
BRO, Police-Administration and SDAF personnel are continuously trying to evacuate the stranded pilgrims from these areas. The pilgrims died due to rocky debris falling on tempo travel and two small vehicles near Sunagar on the Gangotri National Highway. Efforts are being made to contact the family members. At present this route is still closed.
Due to torrential rains and a crack in the hill, a big accident also happened in Kalsi (District Dehradun) morning where a big boulder fell due to cracks in the hills near Tunia on a utility vehicle coming from Dimmau village towards Vikas Nagar. A woman and a man died on the spot in the accident, while four people were seriously injured. 6 people were reported to be in the vehicle at the time of the accident. With the help of the local people, the four injured were immediately brought to Vikas Nagar Government Hospital through 108, from where two injured have been referred to the Higher Centre due to their serious condition.

District Magistrate, Sonika reached the Disaster Operation Centre this morning and received information from the officials of the concerned departments about the action taken on the roads, waterlogged condition and complaints in view of rains. She inquired about the complaints received in the Disaster Operation Centre and the action taken thereon. Due to the torrential rains late last night, water-logging occurred in many areas of Shimla bypass, the maximum water-logging occurred in Naya village and Bhudpur, where rain water entered people’s houses, a large area was submerged in water.
Due to which people started crying in the night. People had to climb on the roofs and some people left their homes to save their lives. DM Sonika today reached the affected village and supervised the rescue work and the measures to clear the water logging.