Uttarakhand Weather Alert: Hill State Hit by Cloudburst and Landslides, IMD Predicts Very Heavy Rains Over 24 Hours
While Himachal Pradesh is set to receive heavy rainfall, Punjab and Haryana may see light to moderate rains in the next 24 hours. On Sunday, capital of Uttarakhand, Dehradun recorded heavy rainfall activity to the tune of 55 mm.
Dehradun, July 2: A heavy rainfall alert has been issued by the Regional Met Office for the next 24-hours, warning of heavy showers in the hill state - Uttarakhand. While Himachal Pradesh is set to receive heavy rainfall, Punjab and Haryana may see light to moderate rains in the next 24 hours, private weather agency Skymet Weather said. During the past 24 hours, torrential rain lashed the hill state causing landslides. On Sunday, capital of Uttarakhand, Dehradun recorded heavy rainfall activity to the tune of 55 mm.
"Uttarakhand received heavy rainfall during the past 24 hrs as predicted. Heavy to very heavy rains will lash parts of the state in next 24 hrs, there is need to stay alert. We'll issue a red alert. Commuters should only use 'pucca road'," Bikram Singh, Meteorological dept, Dehradun was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Due to incessant rain on Sunday, damage to properties was reported from Pauri, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Dehradun and Tehri districts. On Monday, cloudburst hit Munsiari's Balati in Pithoragarh, damaged the Seraghat Hydro Power Project.
According to IMD, Munsiari received 250mm rainfall between Sunday night and Monday morning, which is categorised as extremely heavy rains. Reports by ANI inform that no casualties have been recorded. The damaged Hydro Power Project is likely to cause a flood-like situation in the nearby region as the dam water has entered shops and houses, causing damage to property.
Following landslides occurring near Kunjapuri Devi Temple, Rishikesh on Sunday night, the Rishikesh-Gangotri route on NH-94 was closed. People living on the banks of rivers have been asked to move to higher places just in case flooding occurs. Reports inform that the District Administration has deployed machines to clear the road.
On Sunday morning, a bus fell down a gorge in Nainidanda area of Pauri Garhwal district, killing at least 48 people. Rescue operations were carried out by the State Disaster Response Force, police personnel, and local administration.
In June, Uttarakhand's Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri and Nainital districts witnessed heavy rainfall between June 15 to June 17. The IMD Dehradun has urged commuters to use 'pucca roads' in wake of the recent landslides and cloudbursts in the state.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 02, 2018 01:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).