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Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh devastated by rain; 550+ dead, thousands stranded

rkt.india

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rkt.india Grand Master

rkt.india

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New Delhi: Early arrival of monsoon is usually good news. But the whole of north India, particularly Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, the two Himalayan states, have been battered and ravaged by incessant showers, landslides and flash floods. Thousands are stranded in both these states. In Uttarakhand, 50 people have died and 60 others are missing after torrential rain washed away buildings and roads. Nearly 20,000 tourists are stranded at the Char Dhams, or four holy places of pilgrimage in the hills. The Army and paramilitary troops are leading efforts to rescue the pilgrims and scores of people from the rooftops of their flooded homes. The state government was readying food parcels and drinking water pouches to be air dropped to villages cut off after roads were washed away. More than a dozen people died in the state's Rudraprayag district alone, while another 50 people were missing, said Amit Negi, an official in Uttarakhand. Vehicles were seen being washed away; a landslide buried a bus, killing four people and injuring 15 others in Almora district. Three helicopters of the Air Force have reached Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport for rescue operation; 12 disaster management teams are also there. The National Highway leading up to Gangotri and Badrinath has been closed and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is constantly working to repair the road. In Badrinath, 10 buildings have been washed away while in Munsiyari the Kali Ganga river engulfed 400 houses. The Ganga and all its major tributaries are flowing above the danger mark in Uttarakhand. In Garhwal district, a bridge on the Alakananda river, connecting Rudraprayag and Gaurikund, has been washed away. A large number of shrines, hotels, rest houses, shops and residential buildings close to the river have also caved in. "The situation is very grim. The meteorological office has predicted that the rain will continue for another three days at least," said government official Amit Chandola. In neighbouring Himachal Pradesh, authorities said eight people have been killed in landslides and nearly 1,500 tourists are stranded. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who was stuck in Sangla for more than 60 hours, was rescued today morning by a chopper. Kinnaur has received highest rainfall in 20 years over the last three days. In Haryana, the water level in the Yamuna rose suddenly, leaving 22 people dead and 1,000 stranded. In Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor, 250 farmers were stranded after water was released on the Ganga upstream near Haridwar. Around 32 of them have been rescued. In Delhi too, the Yamuna is flowing above the danger mark. The police have asked people living near Yamuna bank to vacate their houses. Heavy rain resulted in large traffic jams in many parts of the city and its suburbs yesterday. Water-logging, too, was reported in various parts of the city. Surprise showers had struck the national capital on Sunday, flooding the arrival halls in the international and domestic airports. There is forecast for rain in Mumbai as well but so far the situation is normal. However, the city's municipal corporation has warned people not to leave home unless absolutely necessary. Monsoon has brought bumper showers this year, with the country receiving a remarkable 68 per cent surplus rainfall till June 17, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has said.
http://www.ndtv.com/article/cheat-sheet/uttarakhand-himachal-pradesh-devastated-by-rain-50-dead-thousands-stranded-380857 [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBHJbxbslwQ]Rain triggers landslides in Uttarakhand; Char Dham Yatra suspended - YouTube[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8psU3fAbU4]Uttarakhand rains: Over 20,000 people affected - YouTube[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22YJ-FXnkog]Monsoon woes grip Uttarakhand as early onset of rains wreak havoc - YouTube[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_7Q8gHpA14]Five more bodies recovered from near Kedarnath shrine - YouTube[/ame]
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Desi Cartman Newbie

Desi Cartman

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I always worried about illegal (or recently legalized) construction in the flood lands around the rivers. Its has happened all across India as we haven't had major floods for a long time. I hope these people realize what they have done and AT LEAST move out for the time being.

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beetle Rising Star

beetle

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I always worried about illegal (or recently legalized) construction in the flood lands around the rivers. Its has happened all across India as we haven't had major floods for a long time. I hope these people realize what they have done and AT LEAST move out for the time being.
Rivers are supposed to flood during monsoons.That is nature.People go out of the way to put themselves in the way of nature and the consequences are severe. You can't build your house in summer and not think about the monsoon. If you ever go to the hills...you will be shocked at the construction there.It is almost like they are tempting and challenging nature.There are three story houses built on poles dug into river beds. The damage to property is expected and probably the rivers way of clearing the banks. The unfortunate loss of life is more so because of the rains coming early and people getting caught of guard.
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