Moderate to heavy rains lashed most parts of Uttarakhand since Sunday evening, triggering landslides and leaving rivers in spate, with authorities sounding an alert for people living along the banks to move to safer places. Dehradun received maximum 129 mm rainfall, while a woman and her two children died in Vikasnagar area on Monday morning when the roof of their house collapsed under debris.
According to Met office, moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in Uttarakhand in the next 24 hours and weather is likely to improve after July 11. The rainfall recorded till 8 am on Monday was 70 mm in Mussoorie, 55 mm in Joshimath, 48 mm in Bhatwari, 27 mm in Pantnagar, 26 mm in Nainital, 18mm in Tehri, 36 mm in lansdowne, 46 mm in Chamoli, 23 mm in Bageshwar and 16 mm in Rishikesh. Dehradun received maximum 129 mm rain creating problems especially in low lying areas.
An alert was sounded by the district administration advising people living along the river banks to shift to safer places in view of flash flood threats due to rains forecast in catchment areas in the next 24 hours. Dehradun district magistrate BVRC Purushottam said that officers have been deployed in flood prone areas and directed to remain there till next order is released. Two officers including ADM Jharna Kamthan have deployed at Rispana Bridge and Bindal Bridge to take necessary steps for preventing loss of life and property there.
Purushottam said that in view of incessant rain being experienced in the district in the last two days, the district chief education officer has been directed to ensure that all the government and unaided schools are closed on July 9-10.
He informed that in Dhakrani (Vikasnagar area), 25-year old Savita and her two daughters Krishna aged eight years and Karishma aged three years died and two other persons including Harish Kumar and Ghanshyam Das were injured when the roof of their house collapsed under debris. According to him, the financial assistant of Rs five lakh per deceased and Rs 8,000 per injured persons was given to the family.
Nilkant Vihar resident Anil Kumar informed the disaster control room that the safety wall along the Bindal bridge at Nilkant Vihar collapsed and electricity transformer fell into the river. Following this, electricity department officials have been directed to take necessary steps. Residents faced water logging problems in several areas like Harbanswala, Indra Enclave, Vani Vihar, Yamuna Colony, GMS Road, Ekta Enclave and Banjarawala. Municipal corporation officials were deployed there, he added.