For a third consecutive day on Tuesday, nearly 46 people are dead as heavy rainfall battered Uttarakhand, leaving authorities in fear for the lives of many people who may be stuck under debris and inundated areas.
Talking to ANI, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, “So far 46 people have died and five are missing. ₹ 4 lakh compensation will be given to the families of the deceased. Those who lost their houses will be given ₹ 1.9 lakh. All possible help to be extended to those who lost their livestock.”
The Chief Minister along with Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat and Mr Kumar, had conducted an aerial survey. They told the reporters damage had been done to farmers’ crops and fields.
The weather department has also indicated a “significant reduction in rainfall activity over Uttarakhand from Tuesday”, predicting “isolated to scattered” showers.
After three access roads were blocked by landslides, Nainital was cut off but the connectivity was restored later in the day. According to ANI, roads to Kaladhungi, Haldwani and Bhawali had also been closed by debris due to landslides.
Along with the state and national disaster response forces, the Army has also been called to action, with three Army helicopters positioned to join rescue and relief efforts. Two helicopters will be sent to Nainital and the third to the Garhwal region in order to aid in rescue of stranded people.
The Nainital lake has been flash flooded after over 500mm of rain in 24 hours meant water levels upsurged to a record high.
Some people have been injured after a cloudburst over Nainital’s Ramgarh village this morning.
Flood gates at the Nanak Sagar Dam in Udham Singh Nagar have been opened to release excess water.
The state’s disaster response teams are also in action and have rescued 22 pilgrims this morning stuck while returning from the Kedarnath temple.
The district administration said that Chamoli district’s Badrinath National Highway has also been fully blocked due to debris at seven places following continuous rains in the past 48 hours.
The Badrinath Char Dham Yatra has been paused, and passengers traveling to Badrinath Temple were halted at safe places.
All schools remain closed due to incessant rains and landslides. There is a ban on mountaineering, trekking, and camping activities in high-altitude areas, including the Nanda Devi biosphere reserve and various forest divisions..
(With inputs from ANI, PTI)
