Uttarakhand has been severely impacted by heavy rains, with government authorities reporting 30 deaths in the last 15 days due to various rain-related incidents.
Cloudburst tragedy and stranded pilgrims
On Wednesday, a cloudburst 8 km ahead of Ghansali caused four deaths, including two children, and left several others injured. The extreme weather also resulted in the collapse of a house in Haridwar. Nearly 200 pilgrims on the Kedarnath Yatra route were stranded after heavy rains washed away part of their walking path.
The cloudburst triggered a landslide in the Bhim Bali stream along the Kedarnath walking path, damaging approximately 30 meters of the route, which has now been temporarily closed for safety reasons. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far in this area.
Flooding in Haridwar
Heavy rainfall on Wednesday evening led to widespread flooding in Haridwar. The Kharkhari river overflowed, washing away vehicles and submerging several roads, including the one leading to the Kankhal police station. Areas such as Bhupatwala, Haridwar, Naya Haridwar, Kankhal, and Jwalapur have been severely affected by the flooding.
Government response
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami coordinated with disaster management officials, emphasising the safety of residents and travellers. The registration process for the Chardham Yatra at Haridwar and Rishikesh centres will be suspended on Thursday, allowing district magistrates to make decisions regarding the pilgrims’ routes.
Since June 15, Uttarakhand has seen over 30 deaths due to rain-related disasters. Authorities, including the NDRF and SDRF, remain on high alert, with the IMD issuing heavy rain alerts for several areas. The government has urged residents to leave their homes only for essential work to ensure safety amidst the adverse weather conditions.
