Uttarakhand: 3 dead, 20 missing after heavy rain in Uttarkashi

The meteorological centre in Dehradun has predicted that heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, Deheradun, Pauri and Nainital districts over the next 24 hours.

All educational institutions in Shimla, Kullu and Chamba districts will remain closed on Monday.

The state disaster management department has approached the Shimla district administration for rescue operations in Makudi village because it was still accessible from Himachal Pradesh. Express Photo by Pradeep Kumar 18/08/19

Heavy rainfall and cloudburst in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district on Sunday led to the death of at least three people, with several reported missing. While rescue teams were dispatched, they could not reach the affected areas till Sunday evening because of loss of connectivity due to the collapse of two bridges and because of debris on roads.

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has directed the Uttarkashi District Magistrate and Disaster Management officials to carry out rescue and evacuation operations in the affected areas.

The Secretary (Incharge) Disaster Management, S A Murugesan, said three bodies have been found in Makudi, Arakot and Sanail villages. Murugesan added that around 20 people were reported missing.

Senior officials of Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority are camping at a control room in Dehradun to monitor the situation and coordinate in rescue operation.

Officials said rescue teams were dispatched from Chakrata and Badkot on Sunday morning but they faced difficulties in reaching affected areas due to heavy rain, debris on the road and loss of connectivity because two bridges collapsed in Tikochi village. Due to bad weather conditions and continuous rain in Uttarkashi, choppers too could not take off to drop rescue teams.

The state disaster management department has approached the Shimla district administration for rescue operations in Makudi village because it was still accessible from Himachal Pradesh.

The meteorological centre in Dehradun has predicted that heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, Deheradun, Pauri and Nainital districts over the next 24 hours.

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The district administrations of Uttarkashi, Dehradun and Nainital have ordered the closure of all educational institutions from Class 1 to 12 and anganwadi centres on Monday.

Lalmani Verma

Lalmani is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, and is based in New Delhi. He covers politics of the Hindi Heartland, tracking BJP, Samajwadi Party, BSP, RLD and other parties based in UP, Bihar and Uttarakhand. Covered the Lok Sabha elections of 2014, 2019 and 2024; Assembly polls of 2012, 2017 and 2022 in UP along with government affairs in UP and Uttarakhand. ... Read More

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