Incessant rains and cloud burst wreaked havoc across this mountain State where about 57,040 pilgrims undertaking the Char Dham Yatra are stranded at various places and 30 have died so far. Several others are feared drowned. Rains’ fury devastated 164 buildings, washed away 1,015 animals, including 1,000 goats and 15 cows. Seven persons have been reported missing and 19 sustained severe injuries.
Caused by rains, the natural calamity has disrupted normal life across the State that has suffered heavy loss of property and infrastructure.
Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, and Chamoli are among worst hit districts. Out of 30 deaths, 20 have been reported from Rudraprayag wherein 25,000 pilgrims are stranded and 11 have sustained injuries. One person is missing. Seventy three buildings have collapsed here.
Five bodies have been recovered from the river. Around 40 hotels based along Mandakini river were swept away by the rain. The rain devastated two hotels, a GMVNl hut near Chandrapuri area and Sonprayag main market. A GMVN guest house, 19
buildings in Sumadi and Tilwada and Deendayal Park
in Rudraprayag were
washed away.
District administration claimed to have shifted 500 pilgrims to safer places. Rains washed away Gaurikund-Kedarnath route completely.
Several mini-bridges on the route were also either submerged or washed away. Five persons were rescued from Bhimbali area on the route. Some more persons might be trapped under the debris.
Chamoli is second district where two persons died and eight sustained injuries. Four persons have been reported missing from this district.
A helicopter and four light vehicles were washed away in the flood erupted after heavy downpour lashed the state three days ago.
According to official figures, 27,040 pilgrims, including 1,000 at Joshimath, 10,000 in Badrinath, 6,000 in Ghanghariya and 10,000 in Govind Ghat in the district, are stranded.
The road is blocked at lambagad, a 700-meter long stretch of Tharali-Devalpuri motor road is badly damaged apart from Govind Ghat-Joshimath (Patal Ganga) route, Chamoli-Birhi route and
Badrinath-Rishikesh route. A stretch of 40 metre of Kanchan Ganga road is among the worst hit patches. Hanuman Chatti, Rangad Band, lambagarh, Pagal Nala, Chatpeepal route are blocked. Rescue teams have
been pressed into service to open the route.
In Uttarkashi two persons were washed away in flood and 19 buildings, including 10 residential structures owned by PWD and nine private residential structures collapsed in Joshiyana town. Several houses in the catchment area of river from laksheshwar to Matali met the same fate. Of the stranded 5,000 pilgrims, 2,500 have been shifted to government schools and safer places. The fuming waves of rivers washed away 1,000 goats.
A flood death has been reported from Tehri Garhwal. Two cows were washed away in this district. Four houses are partially damaged and rain devastated a footbridge in Champawat district. The downpour badly
damaged the two houses, while a bridge collapsed in Bageshwar district. The incessant rainfall caused damaged to 60 houses. A house collapsed in Dehradun district where three persons died. A death has
been reported from Almora district also.
Moreover, the State administration claimed that stranded pilgrims were being shifted to the safer areas. But in Rudraprayag and other districts where rains devastated roads and bridges rescue operation
could be started only after the rains stop. The NDRF teams were ready and choppers are also ready to air shift the stranded pilgrims in Kedarnath and Badrinath. Governor Aziz Qureshi and Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna expressed concern over the situation in the State.