At least one person was reportedly swept away in a flash flood while at least three persons were reported missing with hundreds of families being affected following heavy rain in various parts of the State on Saturday. The sudden heavy rain is reported to have caused flash flood and landslides causing damages in Ghansali in Tehri district and in Chinyalisaud Tehsil of Uttarkashi district.
All the district magistrates had earlier been directed to remain fully alert while also keeping disaster related services ready. The authorities also aver that the Char Dham Yatra route is open for traffic with the pilgrimage activities currently underway.
According to Government sources, the heavy rain on Saturday night caused damage in Ghansali Bazaar, Chamiyala Bazaar, Sitakot, Girgaon, Kothiyada, Silyara, Ardhagi and Kot under the Ghansali Tehsil. About 100 families and 110 homes were affected or damaged with reports also being received about one human fatality and 34 cattle being affected.
Four oxen reportedly died and five buildings were damaged in Sitakot village whereas in Kotiyada village 100 homes were reportedly damaged and 30 cattle died. Similarly, one building each was reportedly damaged in Girgaon and Srikot villages while three buildings were reportedly damaged in Silyara village.
According to information received from the district, resident of Saroona village under Ghansali Tehsil, Vipul was reportedly carried away by a flash flood whereas the Chamiyala-Ghansali motor road has been blocked at various locations with the Public Works Department deploying five mechanical excavators to clear the road expected to be reopened for traffic on Sunday evening.
Work was in progress on Sunday to restore the supply of electricity and water to the affected villages apart from which the the Saindul-Patal motor road was also reported to be blocked. Of the affected families, 300 persons have been temporarily accommodated in the seed godown while 250 persons and 150 persons have been temporarily accommodated at the community hall and local Ashram respectively.
The provision of food-water and other facilities for the affected families was being systematised on Sunday. The search and rescue operations in the affected areas are being undertaken by the personnel of the Revenue Department, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the local police. In Uttarkashi district, one person has reportedly died while three persons have gone missing in the Chinyalisaud and Dunda Tehsil of Uttarkashi district.
The authorities have also received report about the death of 16-year old Sunaina, daughter of Sardar Singh Negi in the Dunda Tehsil of the district. The SDRF was also dispatched for conducting search and rescue operation in response to reports of heavy rain near Dharasu bend. Three local villagers who had taken their cattle to graze in the woods have been reported missing. One person had reportedly died in Haridwar crushed by a tree felled by strong winds on Saturday evening.
Authorities in the State capital Dehradun also received information about the supply of electricity being disrupted and roads being blocked in areas under various districts. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Public Works Department, Forest Department, police and SDRF have cleared most of the blocked roads which had been reopened for traffic with work underway to restore the supply of electricity to the affected areas.
The authorities have stated that all the Char Dham Yatra roads have remained open for traffic with the pilgrimage being underway. In Dehradun, trees felled by the strong winds in different areas broke electricity supply lines disrupting power supply and flow of traffic. The authorities claimed on Sunday evening to have restored the system with the task being undertaken by personnel of forest department, police and SDRF teams.
The meteorological department has forecast the possibility of normal or light rain in the State during the coming two-three days whereas warning of heavy rain in the coming 48 hours has also been issued for some locations of the State. The State authorities have appealed citizens to remain alert, especially those residing in settlements and homes situated near rivers and other water bodies and those in landslide risk areas.
In case of heavy rains, those living in such vulnerable areas have been asked to shift to secure location and keep an eye on the surrounding situation.