Himachal, Uttarakhand Cloudbursts Highlights: Kedarnath Yatra halted after 14 killed in heavy rains in Uttarakhand

The meteorological office here on Friday issued a 'yellow' alert for heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning in isolated places in ten out districts of Himachal Pradesh till August 6.

A total of 115 roads -- 46 in Mandi, 38 in Kullu, 15 in Shimla, six each in Kangra and Sirmaur, three in Kinnaur, and one in Lahaul and Spiti -- are closed for vehicular traffic following heavy rains in the state.

According to the state emergency operation centre, 225 transformers and 111 water supply schemes have been affected.

Rain-related incidents have claimed 77 lives since the onset of monsoon on June 27 till August 1 and the state has also suffered losses to the tune of Rs 655 crore, according to the centre.

Amid extreme weather events in various parts of the country, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge Friday demanded the Modi government immediately provide additional disaster management funds to states without any discrimination.

He also called for improving disaster management and taking steps by adopting a scientific approach to make a solid policy for dealing with the effects of climate change such as floods, heavy rainfall, cloudburst, and drought-like situations.

He made the remarks while condoling the loss of lives due to cloudbursts and heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand.

"The news of the death of many people due to cloudburst, extremely heavy rainfall, and landslide in Uttarakhand is very saddening," the Congress president said on X.

"We are with the people of Uttarakhand in this difficult time. We have deep sympathies for the victims and we are confident that the rescue work being done by the Army will provide security and relief to the people," he added.

Rescue operations were underway on Friday to trace over 45 people missing following flash floods triggered by cloudbursts in three districts of Himachal Pradesh, officials said on Friday.

With recovery of three more bodies, the death toll due to the flash floods in Nirmand, Sainj, and Malana areas in Kullu, Padhar in Mandi and Rampur in Shimla districts of Himachal Pradesh has increased to eight.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu along with Education Minister Rohit Thakur visited Samej on the border of Shimla and Kullu district to take stock of the situation and talk to the victims.

The Uttarakhand Congress on Friday postponed its Kedarnath Dham Pratishtha Raksha Yatra in view of the havoc in Kedarnath valley after heavy rain.

The yatra that began on July 24 from Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar to protest against the proposed construction of a replica of Kedarnath in Delhi, was to conclude as per its original schedule on August 3 at the Himalayan temple.

However, PCC president Karan Mahara who led the footmarch decided to call it off after reaching Sitapur in Rudraprayag district on the 10th day on Friday in view of the disaster in Kedarnath valley, PCC senior vice president Suryakant Dhasmana said.

Later, in his address Mahara said Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has expressed concern over the disaster in the valley and has appealed to postpone the yatra till the situation becomes normal.

Rahul Gandhi has also instructed all party workers to engage in disaster relief work. (PTI)

Air Force steps up for assistance in rescuing Kedarnath pilgrims.

An accurate early warning system that correlates rainfall and the potential for landslides. That is the imperative, say experts as rains create havoc in hills across India.

Given the scenario of erratic rain, extreme weather events, changing climatic conditions and the fragile hills – both in the north and in the south – an accurate early warning system (EWS) based on empirical rainfall thresholds followed by a systematic evacuation protocol is essential, say experts.

Central government should in bipartisan manner provide financial assistance to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand where cloudbursts and accompanying landslides and floods have claimed nearly two dozen lives and several are still missing, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari demanded in Rajya Sabha on Friday.

Raising the issue through a zero hour mention, he said six people have died and 50 are missing following cloudbursts in Shimla, Mandi and Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh.

Three national highways as well as dozens of other roads have shut due to flooding, stranding tourists and other commuters.

Amid natural calamities in various parts of the country, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday demanded that the Modi government should immediately provide additional disaster management funds to states without any discrimination.

Kharge on an X post also called for improving disaster management and taking steps by adopting a scientific approach to make a solid policy for dealing with the effects of climate change such as floods, heavy rainfall, cloudburst and drought-like situations.

He made the remarks while condoling the loss of lives due to cloudburst and heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand.

Rescue operations were underway on Friday to trace over 45 people missing following flash floods triggered by cloudbursts in three districts of Himachal Pradesh, while 29 people stranded at the site of a power project in the state were brought to safety overnight, officials said.

Cloudbursts in Nirmand, Sainj and Malana areas in Kullu, Padhar in Mandi and Rampur in Shimla districts on Wednesday had left five people dead and over 45 missing.

33 people were also stuck in Malana II power project in Manikaran area of Kullu district.

Deputy Commissioner Kullu, Torul S Raveesh, said 29 out of the 33 have been rescued.

"Fear of death kept us awake all night as we climbed to a mountain to stay safe", residents of Rajban village in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district said on Friday, two days after a cloudburst left 3 people dead and 7 missing.

According to officials, bodies of Chandi Devi (75), Chaitri Devi (90) and Baijru Ram (80) were recovered and an injured person (25-year-old Ram Singh) was rescued in serious condition on Thursday.

"Relief and rescue operations are going on in the state. All the departments are in alert mode. I have also visited several places of the state, where I met the devotees who have come for Kedarnath Darshan. " says the Chief Minister

"Around 5,000 people have been rescued so far and 1,000 people who are in Kedarnath Dham will also be rescued soon." he added.

"ZPM Modi has assured me to provide the best possible assistance, Mi helicopters have already been sent. Union HM Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda and other ministers of the Central Govt are in contact with us..." says Dhami

BJP MP from Mandi, Kangana Ranaut says outsside the Parliment builing, "It's the very saddening thing for us. The life of people living in the mountains is tough. Every year such tragedies come and damage the lives and property of the people of Himachal Pradesh. The PM and the Union HM have taken reports for all the things and have given assurance that more help through relief funds will be provided. I'll also meet different ministers to seek as much help as I can get. After my work is completed here, I'll visit Himachal to meet people in their tough times..."

Watch ANI Video of River Alaknanda river after heavy floods in Himachal in Uttarakhand.

Two helpline numbers -- 7579257572 and 01364-233387 -- and one emergency number 112 have also been issued by the district administration to help people get information about their stranded kin among the pilgrims.

ANI reported, The Indian Air Force has deployed one Chinook and Mi-17V5 helicopter to carry out human assistance and relief operations in the Kedar valley of Uttarakhand. They will be working in coordination with the state government authorities, said Defence officials.

According to a pst on X by the Uttarakhand police, as many as 737 people were rescued by helicopter and at least 2,670 people were taken to Sonprayag by the relief forces as of Thursday.

"SDRF, NDRF, DDRF, District Police and Administration teams are selflessly helping the devotees," read the post.

The meteorological office here has issued a "red alert" of heavy to extremely heavy rain along with thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places in three districts of Kangra, Kullu and Mandi on Thursday.

It also warned of landslides, mudslides and land sinking, besides disruptions of essential services like water and electricity, communications and related services, damage to fruit and standing crops and risk to vulnerable structures and 'kutcha' houses due to strong winds and waterlogging in low-lying areas.

Four people were killed and about 50 went missing following several incidents of cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh where rains washed away many houses, bridges and roads on Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.

IANS

ANI

ANI

In the wake of heavy rains and a cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh, PM Narendra Modi has asked top officials to ensure all possible assistance is provided to the affected areas. Relief operations are underway.

PTI

Taking to X, LoP Rahul Gandhi said, "The news of death and disappearance of many people due to cloudburst and heavy rains in Shimla, Mandi and Kullu is extremely sad. I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families in this difficult time. I have spoken to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu ji and reviewed this difficult situation. He said that he himself is visiting these incident sites and meanwhile NDRF, SDRF and the state administration are continuously involved with commitment in relief and rescue operations in this hour of crisis. I am hoping that all the missing people are found as soon as possible."

PTI

BJP leader and Uttarakhand LoP Jairam Thakur, talking to PTI, stated that there are reports that 50 people are missing.

There are also reports of damage to the Malana (hydropower project) in Kullu district and are large-scale damages in Mandi district as well, he added.

Schools up to class 12 and Anganwadi centres have been closed for today in various districts, including Dehradun.

An advisory has been issued for pilgrims bound for Kedarnath asking them to postpone their journey till the road is restored.

Fresh registrations for the Chardham yatra have been put on hold for the time being.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today and discussed the situation in the state due to the cloudburst. Shah assured Sukhu of all help from the Centre.

A home ministry official said Shah assured Sukhu that the central government will extend all help, including deployment of teams of the National Disaster Response Force, for rescue and relief operations.

(With PTI inputs)

Four people have been reported to be missing in rain-related incidents in Dehradun (2), Haldwani (1) and Chamoli (1).

Water gushed into many homes in Dehradun besides leaving the roads heavily waterlogged at various places in the city.

Nearly a dozen four-wheelers parked along the riverbed of the Sukhi in Haridwar's Kharkhari area were washed away following torrential rain on Wednesday evening.

(With PTI inputs)