Flashfloods in the Ganga and its tributaries, triggered by incessant rains have left a trail of death and devastation across Uttarakhand and Himachal killing over 60 people, injuring hundreds and damaging over hundreds of houses and buildings. Of the casualties more than 40 are in Uttarakhand, and the rest elsewhere in the Northern plains and hills as heavy rains pounded the areas. Many rivers in Himachal and Haryana were flooded. Flashfloods in the Ganga and its tributaries triggered by incessant rains for over 48 hours left a trail of death and devastation across Uttarakhand.
Seven people went missing and a chopper and four vehicles were swept away as heavy rains continue to lash the state, disaster management authorities said. Rudraprayag bore the brunt of the disaster accounting for 20 casualties, they said adding two persons each were killed in Chamoli, Tehri and Uttarkashi districts, three in Dehradun and one in Almora.
A large number of structures including shrines, hotels, rest houses, commercial and residential buildings collapsed like a pack of cards in Rudraparayag district. Seventy-three houses were totally damaged in Rudraprayag, 60 in Pithoragarh, 19 in Uttarkashi, 10 in Dehradun and one each in Tehri and Bageshwar. Rescue operations were going on on a war-footing with the help of ITBP, BSF and the Army but bad weather was proving a hindrance, he said. Chardham and Mansarovar pilgrimages, suspended following torrential rains, would be resumed as soon as the weather improves, Bahuguna said. In Himachal, over 700 people, including chief minister Virbhadra Singh were sstanded for hours at Mandi.
