Sunday brought some respite to the residents of the district of Haridwar with no rains and sun peeping through the clouds intermittently however the threat in the low lying areas continued since the water level in the seasonal rivers has increased and many river embankments have received crevices letting water flow through.
At places, the portions of the embankments have been washed away with water entering the homes and sugarcane fields. There was disruption in the movement of vehicles at the city crossings with long queues of vehicles stretching to a few metres.
The river ganga is flowing full spate following the torrential rains in the uphill areas of Uttarakhand. The water level in river ganga remained close to the danger mark on Sunday. The water level was recorded 293 metres on the morning of Sunday while the danger level is at 294 metres. A day before on Saturday, it had reached 293.80 metres which is just 0.20 metres below the danger mark. Acting on the warning by the by the metrological departments for heavy rainfall in the past two days, the district disaster management team is in constant alert mode and they are prepared for emergency. Meanwhile in areas of Gaumukh from where the Ganga originates and parts of Uttarkashi have witnessed ‘raudra roop’ (terrific form) in the past three days. Many localities including small huts of saints have been washed away by the rising river currents.
District administration had issued alert in Haridwar due to heavy rain in uphill areas of state as water level of Ganga was on constant increase. Flood chaukis made by the district disaster management team in the low lying villages of laksar, Khanpur, Bhogpur and Shyampur Kangri areas of the district were asked to be on alert. The seasonal river Solani is gushing in full spate. In Kalsiya village of laksar tehsil, a truck was stuck in the broken embankment on Saturday night and the disaster management team had tough time in freeing the truck. On Sunday the whole day, rescue operation was on.
Speaking to The Pioneer, SDM Manish Singh said, “We are making regular alert announcements in the surrounding low lying areas near the ganga river. Though there is no flood like threat in the district but still we have asked the flood control rooms to be alert. People residing near Solani river and areas have been asked to vacate. The warning level of ganga is at 293 metres while the danger mark is at 294. Our team is prepared for emergency in the low lying villages.”
The water level increases during mornings and evenings at Har Ki Pauri and other ghats for which the administration has issued an alert. Fallen trees became road blocks The forest department removed fallen trees at three places on Sunday with the help of JCBs which had blocked the hill by pass road. The whole of traffic was disrupted and the vehicles coming from northern part of the city were routed via main Haridwar road traversing through Tulsi chowk. During the later part of the day, it could be normalized. Saints huts washed away near Gangotri 2 kms ahead of Gangotri in Bhojwasa village, the ganga water entered the ashrams situated near the banks of ganga. On Wednesday, the district administration was keeping a close watch on the water level in Gangotri area. Suddenly the gush of swept away the huts of four saints and two temporary bridges were washed away. The district administration rescued the four meditating saints from their huts.