Tag: Uttarakhand Rains

  • Rain fury in Uttarakhand leaves three dead, Chardham Yatra suspended

    By PTI

    DEHRADUN: Torrential rains ravaged Uttarakhand on Monday, destroying buildings and causing landslides which breached the national highways to Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri shrines and left three people dead and five others missing.

    A private defence training academy on the outskirts of Dehradun also collapsed amid the incessant rains.

    Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a meeting with senior officials to review the rain situation in the state and it was decided to suspend the Chardham yatra for two days.

    Rudraprayag district disaster management officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said a landslide hit a camp at Lincholi near Kedarnath, killing one person identified as 26-year-old Kalu Bahadur from Nepal.

    Two bodies were also recovered from rain-fed streams near Shiv Mandir and Miranagar areas in Rishikesh.

    One of them has been identified as 35-year-old Dinesh Panwar, a resident of Amit Gram.

    The other body is being identified, an official at AIIMS, Rishikesh where the bodies have been kept said.

    Four-five people were missing after a landslide in Laxmanjhula area of Pauri district.

    Commuters on a waterlogged road following monsoon rains, at Maldevta village in Dehradun district (Photo | PTI)

    Heavy rains triggered the landslide whose debris fell on a resort in the area trapping four-five people under it, Senior Superintendent of Police, Pauri, Shweta Choubey told PTI over the phone.

    Rescue and relief teams have reached the spot and a search operation has been started, she said.

    Dhami, in a Facebook post, said heavy casualties have been reported due to rains in Pauri which is extremely sad.

    Swollen rivers inundated many districts with surging rainwater entering buildings and submerging vehicles.

    Located on the banks of Song river near Lalpul, the building of the Dehradun Defence Academy caved in on Monday morning, Tehri Sub Divisional Magistrate Ashish Ghildiyal said.

    No one was injured as the building had been vacated in advance, he said.

    It is a private institution whose building was constructed 15 years ago, former Zilla panchayat member Akhilesh Uniyal said.

    Most of the rivers were overflowing due to the rain with the Ganga flowing above the danger mark in Tehri, Haridwar and Rishikesh.

    Alaknanda, Mandakini and Ganga rivers were flowing above the danger level at Rudraprayag, Shrinagar and Devprayag, the disaster control room here said.

    The Badrinath National Highway is blocked at a number of places due to landslide debris.

    There is also information about one person being buried under the debris near Pipalkoti.

    In the Chamoli district, a flood-like situation has developed along the banks of a dozen rivers, including Alaknanda and its tributaries Pindar, Nandakini and Birhi.

    DEHRADUN: Torrential rains ravaged Uttarakhand on Monday, destroying buildings and causing landslides which breached the national highways to Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri shrines and left three people dead and five others missing.

    A private defence training academy on the outskirts of Dehradun also collapsed amid the incessant rains.

    Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a meeting with senior officials to review the rain situation in the state and it was decided to suspend the Chardham yatra for two days.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Rudraprayag district disaster management officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said a landslide hit a camp at Lincholi near Kedarnath, killing one person identified as 26-year-old Kalu Bahadur from Nepal.

    Two bodies were also recovered from rain-fed streams near Shiv Mandir and Miranagar areas in Rishikesh.

    One of them has been identified as 35-year-old Dinesh Panwar, a resident of Amit Gram.

    The other body is being identified, an official at AIIMS, Rishikesh where the bodies have been kept said.

    Four-five people were missing after a landslide in Laxmanjhula area of Pauri district.

    Commuters on a waterlogged road following monsoon rains, at Maldevta village in Dehradun district (Photo | PTI)

    Heavy rains triggered the landslide whose debris fell on a resort in the area trapping four-five people under it, Senior Superintendent of Police, Pauri, Shweta Choubey told PTI over the phone.

    Rescue and relief teams have reached the spot and a search operation has been started, she said.

    Dhami, in a Facebook post, said heavy casualties have been reported due to rains in Pauri which is extremely sad.

    Swollen rivers inundated many districts with surging rainwater entering buildings and submerging vehicles.

    Located on the banks of Song river near Lalpul, the building of the Dehradun Defence Academy caved in on Monday morning, Tehri Sub Divisional Magistrate Ashish Ghildiyal said.

    No one was injured as the building had been vacated in advance, he said.

    It is a private institution whose building was constructed 15 years ago, former Zilla panchayat member Akhilesh Uniyal said.

    Most of the rivers were overflowing due to the rain with the Ganga flowing above the danger mark in Tehri, Haridwar and Rishikesh.

    Alaknanda, Mandakini and Ganga rivers were flowing above the danger level at Rudraprayag, Shrinagar and Devprayag, the disaster control room here said.

    The Badrinath National Highway is blocked at a number of places due to landslide debris.

    There is also information about one person being buried under the debris near Pipalkoti.

    In the Chamoli district, a flood-like situation has developed along the banks of a dozen rivers, including Alaknanda and its tributaries Pindar, Nandakini and Birhi.

  • Nine people killed in rain incidents over 24 hours in Uttarakhand

    By PTI

    DEHRADUN: Nine people have died in separate rain-related incidents over the past 24 hours across Uttarakhand as Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday took stock of the situation and directed all district magistrates to stay on the alert.

    One person is missing in the incidents which also left around half a dozen people injured.

    Two siblings were killed and a third got injured when the hut they were sleeping in was hit by a landslide in the early hours of Wednesday amid incessant rains in Gaurikund, the base camp of Kedarnath Yatra. This was the second landslide in Gaurikund in five days.

    The shack near the helipad in Gaurikund village was hit by a landslide from the top of the hill, burying four of a family in debris, Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said.

    A woman named Janaki emerged unhurt out of the debris while her three children got buried under it, he said. On getting the information, rescue teams reached the spot, pulled out the children and took them to a local government hospital.

    #WATCH | Rishikesh, Uttarakhand: One out of the two people who were stranded after a wall collapsed near Chaurasi Kutiya in the Laxman Jhula area, has been rescued by a team of SDRF. Search & rescue operation is underway: SDRF(Video Source: SDRF) pic.twitter.com/hCSv9xffUr
    — ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) August 10, 2023
    Eight-year-old Sweety survived the incident and is being treated for injuries. Her younger sister Pinky, 5, and another small child, were declared dead at the hospital. The family living in the hut was from Nepal. The children’s father Satyaraj, a labourer, had gone to his village in Nepal.

    The spot in Gaurikund village is just half a kilometer away from the place where three persons were killed and 20 others went missing in a landslide that occurred on August 4.

    Five people were killed and as many injured in two separate road accidents in the past 24 hours in Uttarakhand’s Pauri district, officials said.

    Four people, including a father-son duo, died when their car fell into a deep gorge on Tuesday night at Gumkhal, State Disaster Response Force official Praveen Rathi, who led the rescue operation, told PTI over the phone on Wednesday.

    SDRF personnel rushed to the spot after the accident and launched the rescue operation. The team initially brought out three bodies from the gorge to the main road with the help of rope stretchers, Rathi said. One more occupant of the car remained missing for hours after the accident. However, his body was recovered later, he said.

    The deceased were identified as Chandramohan Singh Bisht (62), his son Atul Bisht (35), and two others — Dinesh Singh (63) and Kamal Bisht (45), the SDRF official said.

    The four men were returning from Gumkhal market to their village Devdali located in Jaiharikhal area when the accident took place, he said.

    #WATCH | Rishikesh, Uttarakhand: Severe waterlogging witnessed due to incessant rainfall in Dhalwala & Khara areas. SDRF launched a relief & rescue operation last night: SDRF(Visual source: SDRF) pic.twitter.com/XOD3x1QdLH
    — ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) August 10, 2023
    In a similar accident near Mundaneshwar in Kaljikhal block of the district, one woman was killed and five others were injured when their car fell into an 80-metre deep gorge at 2 pm on Wednesday, the disaster control room in Pauri said.

    A woman travelling in a bus was killed and another injured when a rock fell over the vehicle on the Rishikesh-Yamunotri National Highway at around 8 am.

    The vehicle was coming from Jankichatti to Barkot.

    A man died in Gadarpur area of Udham Singh Nagar district on Tuesday when a tree fell over him.

    He has been identified as 25-year-old Akshay.

    Meanwhile, Dhami took an update on the excessive rains pounding the state and asked all DMs to remain in alert mode.

    He asked all departments to keep coordinating among themselves so that rapid action could be taken in case of a disaster.

    He spoke to the DMs of Rudraprayag, Pauri, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar on the phone and asked them to keep the administrative arrangements ready in advance to deal with any situation that might emerge in areas vulnerable to natural calamities.

    DEHRADUN: Nine people have died in separate rain-related incidents over the past 24 hours across Uttarakhand as Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday took stock of the situation and directed all district magistrates to stay on the alert.

    One person is missing in the incidents which also left around half a dozen people injured.

    Two siblings were killed and a third got injured when the hut they were sleeping in was hit by a landslide in the early hours of Wednesday amid incessant rains in Gaurikund, the base camp of Kedarnath Yatra. This was the second landslide in Gaurikund in five days.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The shack near the helipad in Gaurikund village was hit by a landslide from the top of the hill, burying four of a family in debris, Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said.

    A woman named Janaki emerged unhurt out of the debris while her three children got buried under it, he said. On getting the information, rescue teams reached the spot, pulled out the children and took them to a local government hospital.

    #WATCH | Rishikesh, Uttarakhand: One out of the two people who were stranded after a wall collapsed near Chaurasi Kutiya in the Laxman Jhula area, has been rescued by a team of SDRF. Search & rescue operation is underway: SDRF
    (Video Source: SDRF) pic.twitter.com/hCSv9xffUr
    — ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) August 10, 2023
    Eight-year-old Sweety survived the incident and is being treated for injuries. Her younger sister Pinky, 5, and another small child, were declared dead at the hospital. The family living in the hut was from Nepal. The children’s father Satyaraj, a labourer, had gone to his village in Nepal.

    The spot in Gaurikund village is just half a kilometer away from the place where three persons were killed and 20 others went missing in a landslide that occurred on August 4.

    Five people were killed and as many injured in two separate road accidents in the past 24 hours in Uttarakhand’s Pauri district, officials said.

    Four people, including a father-son duo, died when their car fell into a deep gorge on Tuesday night at Gumkhal, State Disaster Response Force official Praveen Rathi, who led the rescue operation, told PTI over the phone on Wednesday.

    SDRF personnel rushed to the spot after the accident and launched the rescue operation. The team initially brought out three bodies from the gorge to the main road with the help of rope stretchers, Rathi said. One more occupant of the car remained missing for hours after the accident. However, his body was recovered later, he said.

    The deceased were identified as Chandramohan Singh Bisht (62), his son Atul Bisht (35), and two others — Dinesh Singh (63) and Kamal Bisht (45), the SDRF official said.

    The four men were returning from Gumkhal market to their village Devdali located in Jaiharikhal area when the accident took place, he said.

    #WATCH | Rishikesh, Uttarakhand: Severe waterlogging witnessed due to incessant rainfall in Dhalwala & Khara areas. SDRF launched a relief & rescue operation last night: SDRF
    (Visual source: SDRF) pic.twitter.com/XOD3x1QdLH
    — ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) August 10, 2023
    In a similar accident near Mundaneshwar in Kaljikhal block of the district, one woman was killed and five others were injured when their car fell into an 80-metre deep gorge at 2 pm on Wednesday, the disaster control room in Pauri said.

    A woman travelling in a bus was killed and another injured when a rock fell over the vehicle on the Rishikesh-Yamunotri National Highway at around 8 am.

    The vehicle was coming from Jankichatti to Barkot.

    A man died in Gadarpur area of Udham Singh Nagar district on Tuesday when a tree fell over him.

    He has been identified as 25-year-old Akshay.

    Meanwhile, Dhami took an update on the excessive rains pounding the state and asked all DMs to remain in alert mode.

    He asked all departments to keep coordinating among themselves so that rapid action could be taken in case of a disaster.

    He spoke to the DMs of Rudraprayag, Pauri, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar on the phone and asked them to keep the administrative arrangements ready in advance to deal with any situation that might emerge in areas vulnerable to natural calamities.

  •  Uttarakhand rains: IMD predicts heavy rainfall; three labourers washed away as bridge collapses

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: At least 50 houses were damaged in a cloudburst in Okhladunga area of Uttarakhand’s Nainital district. The administration has shifted the affected families to safer places.

    Nainital District Disaster Management Officer Shailesh Kumar told The New Indian Express, “Due to heavy rains, debris and water have entered the fields and houses of the villagers, fortunately there has been no loss of life and property”.

    The villagers who have been temporarily shifted to relief camps have been provided with food and all the necessary facilities by the administration.

    Taking cognizance of the cloudburst incident in Okhaldhunga, district in-charge and Cabinet minister Rekha Arya immediately directed District Magistrate Nainital Vandana to take necessary action. Minister Arya also directed the DM to provide assistance along with disaster relief and rescue work at the earliest.

    In another incident, one of the eight occupants of an SUV was killed and seven others were rescued by police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) after they were swept away in a drain at Dhikuli in Ramnagar area.

    According to police sources, “Due to the strong flow of water from the Corbett forest area, a rivulet in Dhikuli overflowed and a SUV coming from Delhi was washed away. Around 2.30 am, the family of local resident Yogesh Chimwal, along with people from the vicinity, somehow managed to pull out the occupants of the SUV vehicle.

    During this time two people were swept away with the vehicle. Later, fire brigade personnel reached the spot and pulled both of them out of the vehicle. All of them were admitted to the government hospital in Ramnagar, where a young man named Prakash Chandra Phulara was referred to the Higher Center as his condition was serious, who died on the way.

    In Chamoli district, two labourers were washed away in the Alaknanda river after the structure of the bridge collapsed at Badrinath Dham during the construction of an alternative bridge under the master plan. One worker was rescued, but the other worker is missing.SDRF team has reached the spot.

    Chamoli Superintendent of Police Pramendra Dobhal told this newspaper, “The search for the missing laborer is going on. The bridge construction work was being carried out under the master plan by the PIU Public Works Department near Brahma Kapal when the accident took place”.

    State Meteorological Centre Director Dr Bikram Singh told this newspaper, “The weather pattern in the state will remain the same till August 5, in view of which a yellow alert of rain has been issued again in the state”.

    DEHRADUN: At least 50 houses were damaged in a cloudburst in Okhladunga area of Uttarakhand’s Nainital district. The administration has shifted the affected families to safer places.

    Nainital District Disaster Management Officer Shailesh Kumar told The New Indian Express, “Due to heavy rains, debris and water have entered the fields and houses of the villagers, fortunately there has been no loss of life and property”.

    The villagers who have been temporarily shifted to relief camps have been provided with food and all the necessary facilities by the administration.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Taking cognizance of the cloudburst incident in Okhaldhunga, district in-charge and Cabinet minister Rekha Arya immediately directed District Magistrate Nainital Vandana to take necessary action. Minister Arya also directed the DM to provide assistance along with disaster relief and rescue work at the earliest.

    In another incident, one of the eight occupants of an SUV was killed and seven others were rescued by police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) after they were swept away in a drain at Dhikuli in Ramnagar area.

    According to police sources, “Due to the strong flow of water from the Corbett forest area, a rivulet in Dhikuli overflowed and a SUV coming from Delhi was washed away. Around 2.30 am, the family of local resident Yogesh Chimwal, along with people from the vicinity, somehow managed to pull out the occupants of the SUV vehicle.

    During this time two people were swept away with the vehicle. Later, fire brigade personnel reached the spot and pulled both of them out of the vehicle. All of them were admitted to the government hospital in Ramnagar, where a young man named Prakash Chandra Phulara was referred to the Higher Center as his condition was serious, who died on the way.

    In Chamoli district, two labourers were washed away in the Alaknanda river after the structure of the bridge collapsed at Badrinath Dham during the construction of an alternative bridge under the master plan. One worker was rescued, but the other worker is missing.SDRF team has reached the spot.

    Chamoli Superintendent of Police Pramendra Dobhal told this newspaper, “The search for the missing laborer is going on. The bridge construction work was being carried out under the master plan by the PIU Public Works Department near Brahma Kapal when the accident took place”.

    State Meteorological Centre Director Dr Bikram Singh told this newspaper, “The weather pattern in the state will remain the same till August 5, in view of which a yellow alert of rain has been issued again in the state”.

  • Uttarakhand monsoon ‘mayhem’: Red alert issued for seven districts; relief teams on high alert

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Rains lashed many places in Uttarakhand on Sunday, triggering landslides that blocked several roads, including the Badrinath national highway, officials said.

    Uttarakhand, which is facing a natural water disaster due to torrential and destructive rains, has issued a ‘red’ alert across seven districts for the next three days.

    The State Meteorological Centre has issued a red alert for Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Haridwar, Champawat, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar for July 17. At the same time, there is an orange alert across the state on July 18. Whereas, there is a yellow alert of rain in all districts for July 19.

    Meteorological Department Director Dr Bikram Singh told TNIE: “A red alert has been declared in view of the possibility of lightning with heavy rains and thunderstorms.”

    Designated officers and departmental nodal officers of the IRS system of disaster management have also been instructed to remain vigilant.

    State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Commandant Manikant Mishra told this newspaper, “Additional forces of SDRF’s water police have been deployed at sensitive waterlogged places so that rescue can be done in a short time in case of any untoward incidents.”

    According to information received from the District Disaster Management Control Room Haridwar, “The situation in rural areas remains stable due to lack of more rain on Sunday.”

    The abutment of a bridge on the Joshimath-Malari road was damaged due to debris and excess water flowing into the Girthi Ganga river at Niti Ghati in Chamoli district’s Joshimath.

    “The platform of the Graf bridge on the Joshimath-Malari motorway has been damaged due to excessive water and debris in the Gruthi Ganga river, about eight kilometres from Malari to Sumna,” Joshimath SDM Kumkum Joshi told this newspaper.

    There was no movement of common people on the said motor bridge, which was only used by the Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

    Meanwhile, rescue and relief operations continued in flood-hit areas in Haridwar.

    National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Army and police are carrying out the operations in Roorkee, Bhagwanpur, Laksar and Haridwar tehsils, the officials said.

    In these tehsils, 3,756 families have been affected in 71 villages. Of these families, 81 have been shifted to relief camps, they said.

    Five people have died in these areas due to the floods. Seven houses have been completely damaged and 201 suffered partial damage. Seventeen roads and nine bridges have also been damaged due to the heavy rains in Haridwar, they added.

    The water level in the Kali River in Pithoragarh district’s Dharchula has crossed the warning level of 889 metres, while several other rivers, including the Ganga, are flowing close to the danger mark, the officials said.

    At 70 mm, Kapkot received the maximum rainfall in the state in the last 24 hours, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre.

    Mussoorie received 61 mm of rainfall, Karnprayag 57 mm, Chamoli 54.4 mm, Nagthat 53 mm, Mohkampur 48 mm, Vikasnagar 41 mm and Uttarkashi 39 mm.

    The officials said 2,000-3,000 cusecs of water were released from the Srinagar Hydro Electric Project dam in the Pauri district as the Alaknanda River was flowing above the warning level, the officials said.

    The State Emergency Operation Center has instructed the district magistrates of Tehri, Pauri, Dehradun and Haridwar to take necessary precautions, they said.

    (With additional inputs from PTI)

    DEHRADUN: Rains lashed many places in Uttarakhand on Sunday, triggering landslides that blocked several roads, including the Badrinath national highway, officials said.

    Uttarakhand, which is facing a natural water disaster due to torrential and destructive rains, has issued a ‘red’ alert across seven districts for the next three days.

    googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The State Meteorological Centre has issued a red alert for Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Haridwar, Champawat, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar for July 17. At the same time, there is an orange alert across the state on July 18. Whereas, there is a yellow alert of rain in all districts for July 19.

    Meteorological Department Director Dr Bikram Singh told TNIE: “A red alert has been declared in view of the possibility of lightning with heavy rains and thunderstorms.”

    Designated officers and departmental nodal officers of the IRS system of disaster management have also been instructed to remain vigilant.

    State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Commandant Manikant Mishra told this newspaper, “Additional forces of SDRF’s water police have been deployed at sensitive waterlogged places so that rescue can be done in a short time in case of any untoward incidents.”

    According to information received from the District Disaster Management Control Room Haridwar, “The situation in rural areas remains stable due to lack of more rain on Sunday.”

    The abutment of a bridge on the Joshimath-Malari road was damaged due to debris and excess water flowing into the Girthi Ganga river at Niti Ghati in Chamoli district’s Joshimath.

    “The platform of the Graf bridge on the Joshimath-Malari motorway has been damaged due to excessive water and debris in the Gruthi Ganga river, about eight kilometres from Malari to Sumna,” Joshimath SDM Kumkum Joshi told this newspaper.

    There was no movement of common people on the said motor bridge, which was only used by the Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

    Meanwhile, rescue and relief operations continued in flood-hit areas in Haridwar.

    National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Army and police are carrying out the operations in Roorkee, Bhagwanpur, Laksar and Haridwar tehsils, the officials said.

    In these tehsils, 3,756 families have been affected in 71 villages. Of these families, 81 have been shifted to relief camps, they said.

    Five people have died in these areas due to the floods. Seven houses have been completely damaged and 201 suffered partial damage. Seventeen roads and nine bridges have also been damaged due to the heavy rains in Haridwar, they added.

    The water level in the Kali River in Pithoragarh district’s Dharchula has crossed the warning level of 889 metres, while several other rivers, including the Ganga, are flowing close to the danger mark, the officials said.

    At 70 mm, Kapkot received the maximum rainfall in the state in the last 24 hours, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre.

    Mussoorie received 61 mm of rainfall, Karnprayag 57 mm, Chamoli 54.4 mm, Nagthat 53 mm, Mohkampur 48 mm, Vikasnagar 41 mm and Uttarkashi 39 mm.

    The officials said 2,000-3,000 cusecs of water were released from the Srinagar Hydro Electric Project dam in the Pauri district as the Alaknanda River was flowing above the warning level, the officials said.

    The State Emergency Operation Center has instructed the district magistrates of Tehri, Pauri, Dehradun and Haridwar to take necessary precautions, they said.

    (With additional inputs from PTI)

  • Four killed in Uttarakhand, cyclonic storm alert issued till May 27

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Four people and 26 cattle were killed in incidents of strong thunderstorms and lightning across Uttarakhand on Tuesday night.

    According to the Disaster Management Department, “Three people died and six were injured in accidents of falling and uprooting trees as a result of thunderstorms at various places across the state due to deteriorating weather on Tuesday evening.”

    Four people were buried under a 100-year-old Peepal tree that was uprooted in Ansari Market in Jwalapur. Two hours later, Irfan, Sameer and Harsh were rescued. Irfan’s condition is said to be critical, he has been referred to the Higher Medical Center.

    According to the police, Munir (10), who went missing from the spot, was found buried under the debris around 1.45 am.

    He was declared dead at the hospital. In Haridwar, Yogesh, a resident of Sonipat, died after a tree fell on him in the Kotwali area.

    On the other hand, a huge tree fell on a moving car in Manpur West on Rampur Road in Haldwani, killing the driver on the spot.

    According to police, the deceased has been identified as Tanuj Semwal, a high court lawyer. Tanuj was a resident of Pauri and his daughter lives in Rudrapur. The family lives in Nainagaon, Nainital. Two trees fell on the road near Buddha Park in Kotdwar, injuring one person.

    26 goats have been reported to have died due to lightning in the Bugyal area, about 12 km from Qamar village. The revenue department is collecting stock of the damage from the villagers.

    Uttarkashi SP Arpan Yaduvanshi told the TNIE, “Traffic on Yamunotri highway was suspended after a landslide near Khaneda-Kisala in Uttarkashi.

    The district administration has declared a holiday for some schools on Thursday as a precautionary measure after the state meteorological department forecast issued a cyclonic storm alert till May 27.

    DEHRADUN: Four people and 26 cattle were killed in incidents of strong thunderstorms and lightning across Uttarakhand on Tuesday night.

    According to the Disaster Management Department, “Three people died and six were injured in accidents of falling and uprooting trees as a result of thunderstorms at various places across the state due to deteriorating weather on Tuesday evening.”

    Four people were buried under a 100-year-old Peepal tree that was uprooted in Ansari Market in Jwalapur. Two hours later, Irfan, Sameer and Harsh were rescued. Irfan’s condition is said to be critical, he has been referred to the Higher Medical Center.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    According to the police, Munir (10), who went missing from the spot, was found buried under the debris around 1.45 am.

    He was declared dead at the hospital. In Haridwar, Yogesh, a resident of Sonipat, died after a tree fell on him in the Kotwali area.

    On the other hand, a huge tree fell on a moving car in Manpur West on Rampur Road in Haldwani, killing the driver on the spot.

    According to police, the deceased has been identified as Tanuj Semwal, a high court lawyer. Tanuj was a resident of Pauri and his daughter lives in Rudrapur. The family lives in Nainagaon, Nainital. Two trees fell on the road near Buddha Park in Kotdwar, injuring one person.

    26 goats have been reported to have died due to lightning in the Bugyal area, about 12 km from Qamar village. The revenue department is collecting stock of the damage from the villagers.

    Uttarkashi SP Arpan Yaduvanshi told the TNIE, “Traffic on Yamunotri highway was suspended after a landslide near Khaneda-Kisala in Uttarkashi.

    The district administration has declared a holiday for some schools on Thursday as a precautionary measure after the state meteorological department forecast issued a cyclonic storm alert till May 27.

  • Heavy showers in Kerala, Telangana; Home Guards help tribal woman deliver baby in rain-hit Chhattisgarh

    By PTI

    A team of Home Guard jawans helped a tribal woman deliver a baby on the banks of a swollen river in Chhattisgarh’s rain-hit Bijapur district on Sunday, police said.

    The Home Guard personnel were involved in rescue work in the rain-affected areas of the district when they were alerted about a woman who had to be shifted to a sub-health centre for delivery in the morning, a senior official said.

    Sarita Gondi started experiencing labour pains even as the jawans were shifting her to a rescue boat to take her across a river near Jhorgaya village in Gangaloor tehsil of the district, he said.

    The district administration had received a call from the family of the woman, who was in the advanced stages of pregnancy, seeking help to cross a river that flows along the village to reach a sub-health centre, he said.

    The river was in spate due to the heavy rains that lashed the area for the last few days, the official said.

    The administration alerted the Home Guard office in Bijapur, following which the rescue team swung into action, he said.

    The woman’s family had brought her to the river bank on an indigenous bamboo stretcher.

    On reaching the spot, the rescue team attempted to move her to a boat, when she went into labour, the official said.

    The woman gave birth on the stretcher itself, and both the newborn and the mother were taken across the river on a rescue boat and admitted to the sub-health centre in Reddy village, he said.

    The woman and newborn were said to be fine, the official added.

    A flood-like situation was witnessed in the interiors of Bijapur, Dantewada, Sukma and Narayanpur districts due to incessant downpours in the last few days and the backwater of Godavari river that flows along the border of Chhattisgarh and Telangana, officials said.

    The Bastar division comprises seven districts – Bastar, Kanker, Kondgaon, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur and Sukma.

    State Industries Minister Kawasi Lakhma on Saturday visited Bijapur and Sukma districts to take stock of the situation emerging out of the incessant rains.

    District officials have been instructed to keep the rescue teams on alert to deal with emergencies, while officials of the revenue, district panchayat, janpad panchayat and forest departments have been asked to provide relief to the affected people, they said.

    Heavy rains continue in Kerala, water in some dams reach red alert levels

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In Kerala, heavy rains continue to lash various parts of the state. The water levels in several dams, including the Mullaperiyar and Idukki, in the state are reaching their respective storage capacities and some even reached red alert status on Sunday.

    According to figures provided by the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), water in six dams — of which four are in Idukki — under the control of Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) are at red alert levels and in one at orange alert level.

    The dams where water reached red alert levels at 11 am were — Ponmudi, Kallarkutty, Erattayar and Lower Periyar in Idukki, Kuttiyadi in Kozhikode and Moozhiyar in Pathanamthitta districts of the state.

    An Orange alert was announced in Poringalkuthu dam in Thrissur, KSDMA said.

    Later in the evening, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, referring to weather reports and KSDMA data, said an orange alert has also been announced in Meenkara irrigation dam in Palakkad.

    Besides that, blue alerts have been announced in Neyyar and Mangalam irrigation dams in Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad, respectively, the Chief Minister said in a release.

    It also said the water level in Mullaperiyar dam has reached 135.75 feet and once it reaches 136.60 due to the rains, Tamil Nadu will release water from its side through the spillway and therefore, nearby residents should be vigilant and take precautions.

    The water levels in the Mullaperiyar dam were holding steady at 135.7 feet at 12 pm due to reduction in rainfall in the area during the preceding hours, an official from the control room set up in Idukki district had said earlier in the day.

    The Chief Minister, in the release, also said water was being released from Malankara, Siruvani, Kuttiyadi, Kallada, Karapuzha, Kanjirappuzha, Peechi, Maniyar, Bhoothathankettu, Moolathara and Pazhassi dams in the state and people nearby these dams should take precautions.

    He also said, in the release, that according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a yellow alert has been declared in Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod districts for the day and for tomorrow in Idukki, Malappuram and Kasaragod districts.

    Vijayan asked people to be careful of wind hazards as strong winds are expected in the state and advised those living in low-lying areas, near river banks and hilly areas prone to landslides to be alert.

    He said, in the release, that 23 relief camps have been set up in various districts of the state and 1,485 people have been shifted there.

    Meanwhile, 23 people have died so far in rain-related incidents, 11 were injured, three are missing, 81 houses have been completely destroyed and 1,278 homes were partially damaged, the release said.

    Heavy rainfall in East Rajasthan, more rains expected in next 4-5 days: MeT dept

    JAIPUR: Heavy rainfall coupled with thunderstorm occurred at isolated places in East Rajasthan while several places received light to moderate rain in 24 hours ending 8.

    30 am on Sunday, the weather office said.

    Srinagar in Ajmer recorded 7 cm rainfall, 6 cm each in Bhadra and Sujangarh, and 5 cm each in Tonk tehsil, Begun, Hindoli, Baswa, Ratangarh and Suratgarh.

    Various places recorded 1 cm to 4 cm rainfall during the 24 hours, it said.

    MeT department regional director Radheshyam Sharma said Baran, Kota, Bundi, Tonk, Ajmer, Nagaur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Barmer districts are likely to receive heavy rains with thunder at some places.

    He said in the next four to five days, East Rajasthan is very likely to get rain coupled with thunderstorm at most places and heavy rain in some places.

    On July 19, there is a strong possibility of very heavy rain at one or two places and heavy rain at some places in Jaipur, Bharatpur, Ajmer and Kota divisions, he added.

    Guv visits flood-hit areas in Telangana, interacts with local residents

    Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Sunday visited flood-affected areas in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district and interacted with the residents at relief camps.

    The Governor, who visited flood relief camps, also distributed hygiene kits, medicines and other relief materials.

    Tamilisai Soundararajan tweeted: “Distributed Hygiene Kits, Tarpaulins, Medicines and Food Packets to the public at flood relief camp in Ashwapuram Village #badrachalam District, organised by @IndianRedCross Society”.

    In a series of tweets, the Governor also said she visited flood-affected Pamulapalli village and interacted with the locals and assured necessary support in consultation with the district administration.

    The Governor further said she heard the grievances of the people at Battilagumpu village and assured them that it will be conveyed to the district administration for necessary assistance.

    Heavy rains (recently) and inflows led to a massive rise in water level in Godavari river (though it started declining on Saturday) at Bhadrachalam town in Telangana.

    Such massive water level and flooding was witnessed in 1986, some residents recalled.

    Several localities in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district continued to remain in water on Saturday.

    The state government has shifted several thousand people to relief camps in view of the flood in the district.

    A damaged road due to heavy monsoon rainfall, in Surat, on July 16, 2022. (Photo | PTI)

    Heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli damages NH-7

    Meanwhile, an ANI report said that due to the heavy rainfall in Chamoli district, the road at National Highway-07 has been extensively damaged.

    Traffic with caution has also been restored in two severely damaged locations of Km. 398+500 (Karanprayag) and Km. 419+900(Pursari) and the contractor is in the process of restoring the road in full width.

    Recent media reports have alleged that the government has engaged a blacklisted company for the execution of the prestigious Chardham Project.

    National Highways and Infrastructure Development (NHIDCL) hereby clarifies that no blacklisted contractor is engaged on any of its projects and the selection of contractors for its projects are made after a prescribed due diligent process.

    The companies engaged are executing a number of Central and State Government infrastructure projects

    The roads are being constructed on EPC mode in which the contractor is responsible for the restoration of defects for four years even after construction. NHIDCL is committed to building high-quality highway infrastructure in the country. 

    (With inputs from PTI and ANI)

    A team of Home Guard jawans helped a tribal woman deliver a baby on the banks of a swollen river in Chhattisgarh’s rain-hit Bijapur district on Sunday, police said.

    The Home Guard personnel were involved in rescue work in the rain-affected areas of the district when they were alerted about a woman who had to be shifted to a sub-health centre for delivery in the morning, a senior official said.

    Sarita Gondi started experiencing labour pains even as the jawans were shifting her to a rescue boat to take her across a river near Jhorgaya village in Gangaloor tehsil of the district, he said.

    The district administration had received a call from the family of the woman, who was in the advanced stages of pregnancy, seeking help to cross a river that flows along the village to reach a sub-health centre, he said.

    The river was in spate due to the heavy rains that lashed the area for the last few days, the official said.

    The administration alerted the Home Guard office in Bijapur, following which the rescue team swung into action, he said.

    The woman’s family had brought her to the river bank on an indigenous bamboo stretcher.

    On reaching the spot, the rescue team attempted to move her to a boat, when she went into labour, the official said.

    The woman gave birth on the stretcher itself, and both the newborn and the mother were taken across the river on a rescue boat and admitted to the sub-health centre in Reddy village, he said.

    The woman and newborn were said to be fine, the official added.

    A flood-like situation was witnessed in the interiors of Bijapur, Dantewada, Sukma and Narayanpur districts due to incessant downpours in the last few days and the backwater of Godavari river that flows along the border of Chhattisgarh and Telangana, officials said.

    The Bastar division comprises seven districts – Bastar, Kanker, Kondgaon, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur and Sukma.

    State Industries Minister Kawasi Lakhma on Saturday visited Bijapur and Sukma districts to take stock of the situation emerging out of the incessant rains.

    District officials have been instructed to keep the rescue teams on alert to deal with emergencies, while officials of the revenue, district panchayat, janpad panchayat and forest departments have been asked to provide relief to the affected people, they said.

    Heavy rains continue in Kerala, water in some dams reach red alert levels

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In Kerala, heavy rains continue to lash various parts of the state. The water levels in several dams, including the Mullaperiyar and Idukki, in the state are reaching their respective storage capacities and some even reached red alert status on Sunday.

    According to figures provided by the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), water in six dams — of which four are in Idukki — under the control of Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) are at red alert levels and in one at orange alert level.

    The dams where water reached red alert levels at 11 am were — Ponmudi, Kallarkutty, Erattayar and Lower Periyar in Idukki, Kuttiyadi in Kozhikode and Moozhiyar in Pathanamthitta districts of the state.

    An Orange alert was announced in Poringalkuthu dam in Thrissur, KSDMA said.

    Later in the evening, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, referring to weather reports and KSDMA data, said an orange alert has also been announced in Meenkara irrigation dam in Palakkad.

    Besides that, blue alerts have been announced in Neyyar and Mangalam irrigation dams in Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad, respectively, the Chief Minister said in a release.

    It also said the water level in Mullaperiyar dam has reached 135.75 feet and once it reaches 136.60 due to the rains, Tamil Nadu will release water from its side through the spillway and therefore, nearby residents should be vigilant and take precautions.

    The water levels in the Mullaperiyar dam were holding steady at 135.7 feet at 12 pm due to reduction in rainfall in the area during the preceding hours, an official from the control room set up in Idukki district had said earlier in the day.

    The Chief Minister, in the release, also said water was being released from Malankara, Siruvani, Kuttiyadi, Kallada, Karapuzha, Kanjirappuzha, Peechi, Maniyar, Bhoothathankettu, Moolathara and Pazhassi dams in the state and people nearby these dams should take precautions.

    He also said, in the release, that according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a yellow alert has been declared in Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod districts for the day and for tomorrow in Idukki, Malappuram and Kasaragod districts.

    Vijayan asked people to be careful of wind hazards as strong winds are expected in the state and advised those living in low-lying areas, near river banks and hilly areas prone to landslides to be alert.

    He said, in the release, that 23 relief camps have been set up in various districts of the state and 1,485 people have been shifted there.

    Meanwhile, 23 people have died so far in rain-related incidents, 11 were injured, three are missing, 81 houses have been completely destroyed and 1,278 homes were partially damaged, the release said.

    Heavy rainfall in East Rajasthan, more rains expected in next 4-5 days: MeT dept

    JAIPUR: Heavy rainfall coupled with thunderstorm occurred at isolated places in East Rajasthan while several places received light to moderate rain in 24 hours ending 8.

    30 am on Sunday, the weather office said.

    Srinagar in Ajmer recorded 7 cm rainfall, 6 cm each in Bhadra and Sujangarh, and 5 cm each in Tonk tehsil, Begun, Hindoli, Baswa, Ratangarh and Suratgarh.

    Various places recorded 1 cm to 4 cm rainfall during the 24 hours, it said.

    MeT department regional director Radheshyam Sharma said Baran, Kota, Bundi, Tonk, Ajmer, Nagaur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Barmer districts are likely to receive heavy rains with thunder at some places.

    He said in the next four to five days, East Rajasthan is very likely to get rain coupled with thunderstorm at most places and heavy rain in some places.

    On July 19, there is a strong possibility of very heavy rain at one or two places and heavy rain at some places in Jaipur, Bharatpur, Ajmer and Kota divisions, he added.

    Guv visits flood-hit areas in Telangana, interacts with local residents

    Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Sunday visited flood-affected areas in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district and interacted with the residents at relief camps.

    The Governor, who visited flood relief camps, also distributed hygiene kits, medicines and other relief materials.

    Tamilisai Soundararajan tweeted: “Distributed Hygiene Kits, Tarpaulins, Medicines and Food Packets to the public at flood relief camp in Ashwapuram Village #badrachalam District, organised by @IndianRedCross Society”.

    In a series of tweets, the Governor also said she visited flood-affected Pamulapalli village and interacted with the locals and assured necessary support in consultation with the district administration.

    The Governor further said she heard the grievances of the people at Battilagumpu village and assured them that it will be conveyed to the district administration for necessary assistance.

    Heavy rains (recently) and inflows led to a massive rise in water level in Godavari river (though it started declining on Saturday) at Bhadrachalam town in Telangana.

    Such massive water level and flooding was witnessed in 1986, some residents recalled.

    Several localities in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district continued to remain in water on Saturday.

    The state government has shifted several thousand people to relief camps in view of the flood in the district.

    A damaged road due to heavy monsoon rainfall, in Surat, on July 16, 2022. (Photo | PTI)

    Heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli damages NH-7

    Meanwhile, an ANI report said that due to the heavy rainfall in Chamoli district, the road at National Highway-07 has been extensively damaged.

    Traffic with caution has also been restored in two severely damaged locations of Km. 398+500 (Karanprayag) and Km. 419+900(Pursari) and the contractor is in the process of restoring the road in full width.

    Recent media reports have alleged that the government has engaged a blacklisted company for the execution of the prestigious Chardham Project.

    National Highways and Infrastructure Development (NHIDCL) hereby clarifies that no blacklisted contractor is engaged on any of its projects and the selection of contractors for its projects are made after a prescribed due diligent process.

    The companies engaged are executing a number of Central and State Government infrastructure projects

    The roads are being constructed on EPC mode in which the contractor is responsible for the restoration of defects for four years even after construction. NHIDCL is committed to building high-quality highway infrastructure in the country. 

    (With inputs from PTI and ANI)

  • Nanini Lake boatmen left high and dry after heavy rain wrecks havoc

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN:  Disastrous rains apart from engulfing 79 lives and wrecking havoc on infrastructure last month have left boat makers, boatmen of Naini Lake in Nainital town and high and dry. 

    Forty per cent of total boats have suffered damages. Though not completely shattered, the damages have forced the boatmen to repair the boats to be prepared for tourist season post Diwali. 

    Narendra Singh Chauhan, secretary of Boat Association whose boat was also damaged, says, “My boat is almost 50% damaged which is being repaired. Similarly, around 40% boats have been damaged requiring repair work. This is like extra burden on us. It is taking time and money. We would have earned a substantial amount if these rains hadn’t hit us so bad.”

    With disastrous rains last month wrecking havoc claiming 79 lives across Uttarakhand, Nainital district was worst hit with 35 deaths and a trail of destruction of roads, bridges and other infrastructure. 

    At present, a total of 222 four-seater rowing boats are allowed in the Naini Lake along with 90 paddle boats and 10 yachts of the Nainital Yacht Club. 

    The boatmen have to pay Rs 700 as the renewal fee for their license every year. A boatman earns around Rs 35,000-Rs 40,000, if the tourist season is a good one. 

    “The pandemic had already engulfed last two peak summer tourist seasons. We were hoping some good business post rainy season. But these rains not only blocked tourism, but inflicted damages on our boats,” says Deepak Kumar (41) who has been rowing boats for over 26 years in the Naini Lake. 

    A boat deployed in the lake is assembled using five different parts made from Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo), Toona (Toona ciliata) and Pine tree wood which takes a skilled craftsman along with two helpers at least a month. 

    After assembling the parts using copper nails and rings, the boat is polished with Flaxseed oil. Later, waterproofing is done using warmish of a good brand. In the final touch, seats and ornamental parts are  installed to get it sailing.

    Troubled waters 

    At present, a total of 222 four-seater rowing boats are allowed in Naini Lake along with 90 paddle boats and 10 yachts of Nainital Yacht Club. A boatman earns around Rs 35,000-Rs 40,000.

  • Uttarakhand: Bodies of 5 trekkers from West Bengal retrieved from Sundardhunga glacier.

    By PTI

    PITHORAGARH: Bodies of five trekkers from West Bengal, who went missing during an expedition in the Himalayas, were retrieved on Tuesday from the Sundardhunga glacier in Uttarakhand’s Bageshwar district.

    The search and rescue team is still at the spot to locate their missing guide Khilaf Singh, a resident of Jakuni village of the district’s Kapkot sub division.

    “The 13-member rescue team consisting of NDRF and SDRF personnel on Tuesday reached Devi Kund near the Sundardhunga glacier where five bodies had earlier been spotted and retrieved all of them,” Bageshwar District Magistrate Vineet Kumar said.

    “The bodies have been sent to Kapkot for postmortem,” he said Bad weather had foiled several attempts over the past few days to retrieve the bodies, Kumar said.

    Sixty-five tourists, including these five trekkers, on Tuesday got stranded at the Sundardhunga glacier after three days of record rains in Uttarakhand from October 17-19, he said.

  • Uttarakhand rains: 88 rescued as death toll rises to 75

    By PTI

    DEHRADUN: The death count in Uttarakhand rose to 75 on Friday as rescue workers found more bodies and also brought to safety score of stranded people after the rains that recently lashed the state.

    State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) men rescued 65 trekkers, including six foreigners, stranded near Bageshwar’s Pindari and Kafni glaciers.

    Twenty-three people were rescued from from Darma Valley of Pithoragarh.

    The official death toll in the state now is 68, including the five bodies of members of a team of 11 people who were trekking from Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi to Chitkul in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.

    The figure, however, does not include two others member of the Chitkul trek reported dead.

    Five people feared dead in Bageshwar are also not included in the official count.

    Rains battered Uttarakhand for nearly three days, beginning Sunday night, with the Kumaon division bearing the brunt of it.

    An official said Kumaon suffered a loss of Rs 2,000 crore, out of Rs 7,000 croe damage statewide estimated by the Uttarakhand government.

    “SDRF teams have rescued 42 tourists, including six foreigners, from Dwali near the Pindari glacier and 23 from the Kafni glacier,” Bageshwar DM Vineet Kumar told PTI.

    Meanwhile, two Cheetah helicopters, which were to make sorties in search of 10 members of a trekking team stranded in Sundardhunga, could not take off due to cloudy weather, he said.

    “But four members of the team have returned safe. We suspect that there may have been some casualties too. The helicopters will make another attempt early on Saturday morning in search of the missing members of the trekking team,” Kumar said.

    Besides, 15 people who had gone missing in Sarmool, the point of origin of the Saryu river, have also been found safe, he said.

    Twenty-one tourists and two ailing locals were rescued from Darma Valley of Pithoragarh district, DM Ashish Chauhan said.

    Two surviving members of a trekking team have already been rescued while the search for two missing is on, officials in Uttarkashi said.

    Kumaon Divisional Commissioner Sushil Kumar said, “Kumaon division bore the brunt of the unseasonal spell of record rains which damaged crops and property worth Rs 2,000 crore besides accounting for the highest number of deaths and large scale destruction of houses,” the official said.

    Fifty-nine deaths were reported from Kumaon alone with Nainital reporting the maximum 35 deaths followed by 11 in Champawat, six in Almora, one in Bageshwar and three each in Pithoragarh and Udham Singh Nagar districts.

    Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday visited Dungri village in Chamoli district to meet the disaster-hit people.

    Accompanied by Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj, state Disaster Management Minister Dhan Singh Rawat and officials, Dhami trekked up the steep slippery slopes of the village with a stick in hand for an on-the-spot assessment of the losses.

    Two persons of a family were buried in the rubble of a landslide in the village on October 19.

    Dhami met the surviving members of the family and promised them all help.

    He asked officials to speed up relief and rescue efforts in the affected areas assuring them that they will not have to face any shortage of resources.

  • Uttarakhand CM meets affected people in Chamoli’s rain-hit Dungri village

    By PTI

    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday visited Dungri village in Chamoli district to meet the disaster-hit people who lost their kin in the landslides triggered by heavy rains in the state.

    Accompanied by Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj, State Disaster Management Minister Dhan Singh Rawat and officials, the Chief Minister trekked up the steep slippery slopes of the village with a stick in hand for support to do an on-the-spot assessment of the losses.

    Two persons of a family were buried in the rubble of a landslide in the village on October 19.

    Dhami met the surviving members of the family and promised them all help from the government.

    He asked officials to speed up relief and rescue efforts in the affected areas assuring them that they will not have to face any shortage of resources.

    “The affected families will get all support from the government. They have lost their kin and have little children. We will ensure that they are given good care,” Dhami told reporters during a visit to the village.

    A total of 65 people were killed, 22 injured and two went missing during the recent spell of downpours in the hill state which also saw 60 houses being damaged.

    Many hectares of forest and agricultural land with standing paddy crop in them were also swept away in the rains with the Chief Minister pegging the losses as per an initial estimate at Rs 7,000 crore.

    Search and rescue operations continue in the upper areas of Kumaon and Garhwal regions to evacuate stranded people, including tourists, to safety.