The roofs of scores of houses in the high altitude areas of Pithoragarh, Uttarkashi and Chamoli districts were blown away in a snowstorm that lashed the region on Wednesday night and continued ravaging till Thursday morning. According to officials, no loss of life has been reported from any of the storm-hit areas. Relief teams have been dispatched to the affected areas.
According to the Pithoragarh district magistrate HC Semwal, information had been received about the roofs of about a dozen homes in total being blown away in four villages and power lines being broken in the Panchahuli area. There were no reports of human fatalities and relief teams had been dispatched to assist the villagers, he added. In Uttarkashi district, the roofs of some homes and that of the government primary school Bhangori in Bhatwari block were blown away in a storm experienced on Wednesday night though no loss of life was reported. The roofs of scores of homes were blown away in some villages in the Nijmula valley in remote area of Chamoli district without any loss of life being reported.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Harish Rawat has given directions to the district magistrates of Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Champawat and Nainital to keep the disaster and relief team ready in view of the current weather conditions. Arrangements must be made for areas where heavy snowfall is expected. People should not face problems related to food. JCBs must be placed in areas where heavy snowfall is expected. In case of any emergency, the CM’s office and Chief Secretary must be immediately informed. Rawat added that the public need not worry. The disaster management department informed that so far no loss of life had been reported.