Tuesday brought some respite from the rain especially for people living in disaster-affected areas of the State. There was no report of human deaths from anywhere in the State on Tuesday.
However, according to information with the State administration, the cumulative toll taken by heavy rainfall and related disasters since June 1 to July 19 is stated to be 43 human fatalities, 13 persons reported missing and 23 persons injured from different parts of the State.
Further, a total of 126 big animals (cattle) and 453 small animal deaths have also been reported during this period. The heavy rainfall, landslides and building collapse among other mishaps have damaged 55 residential buildings completely with 136 homes reported to be severely damaged and 613 homes reported partially damaged in various parts of Uttarakhand.
According to information from the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), in the worst hit area in Pithoragarh district, revenue officials in one relief team are touring other areas to assess damage and to facilitate provision of relief assistance and facilities to the disaster affected in relief camps. Two medical teams are said to be touring affected areas and relief camps to check health status and provide necessary medicines free of cost to those in need.
According to details provided by the Didihat Tehsildar, a total of 84 families and 617 persons are living in relief camps. Additionally, as informed by the sub divisional magistrate Thal/Munsiyari over the phone six disaster affected families and 31 persons are presently staying in two relief camps. The Tawaghat-Kanjyoti-Sobla motor road is blocked to traffic near Khet with work underway to reopen the road apart from 13 blocked rural motor roads in Pithoragarh district.
In the second worse disaster affected area of Chamoli district, a total of 28 families and 100 persons are staying in two relief camps. The Rishikesh-Badrinath national highway number 58 which was earlier blocked to traffic near Marwadi had been reopened for traffic by Tuesday evening.
A total of 57 motor roads in the district remain blocked. According to official data, in the Uttarkashi district, the Rishikesh-Gangotri national highway number 108 is blocked near Gangnani with Border Roads Organisation (BRO) working on clearing the road. The Rishikesh-Gangotri national highway number 94 is open for large and small vehicles upto Janakichatti. A total of 24 motor roads in the district are blocked with work reported to be underway for reopening the roads for traffic.
In the Rudraprayag district, the Rishikesh-Kedarnath national highway 109 is blocked for traffic near the parking between Sonprayag and Gaurikund while the bridle path from Gaurikund to Kedarnath is open. Additionally, a total of 33 rural motor roads have remained blocked to traffic in the district.
In the Almora district, the Someshwar-Dwarahat-Chaukhutiya motor road and the Majkholi-Someshwar motor road are blocked to traffic with work underway to reopen them. Additionally a total of 23 motor roads are blocked in Almora district. Nineteen rural motor roads were blocked in Champawat district while 11 rural roads were blocked to traffic in Nainital district .
In the Dehradun district, the Kalsi-Chakrata motor road is blocked to traffic apart from which a total of 34 rural motor roads in the district are closed to traffic. In the Tehri district, the Rishikesh Chamba national highway number 34 is blocked to traffic near the Narendranagar bypass with efforts underway to clear the road.