The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday issued a red alert for Uttarakhand for the next two days.
The IMD said localised flooding and landslides are expected amid very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall.
The red alert from the IMD comes at a time when Uttarakhand has been reeling under incessant rains for weeks that have caused frequent landslides, floods, and flash-floods, and have killed dozens in rain-related incidents, with several still missing.
IMD issues red alert, predicts over 200 mm rainfall
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday issued a red alert for Uttarakhand for Sunday and Monday.
The IMD predicted that Uttarakhand could receive more than 200 mm of rainfall in next two days.
"Uttarakhand is likely to get heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy rainfall (more than 204.4 mm) on 13th and 14th August. Potential impact: Localised flooding, landslides," said IMD in the alert published on Twitter.
Even prior to the IMD's alert on Saturday, the Dehradun Meteorological Center had issued an orange alert for Tehri, Dehradun, Pauri, Champawat, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar districts for Friday and a red alert on Saturday-Monday, reported PTI.
Localised flooding, landslides, waterlogging expected
For the next four days, the IMD has predicted a range of potential impacts of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand.
In a press release on Saturday, the IMD listed the following potential impacts during August 12-16 in Uttarakhand:
- Localised flooding of roads, water logging in low lying areas, and closure of underpasses mainly in urban areas
- Occasional reduction in visibility due to heavy rainfall
- Disruption of traffic in major cities due to water logging in roads leading to increased travel time
- Minor damage to kutcha roads
- Possibilities of damage to vulnerable structure
- Localised landslides/mudslides in the hilly areas
- Damage to horticulture and standing crops in some areas due to inundation
- It may lead to riverine flooding in some river catchments
7 bodies recovered in 2 days
Seven bodies have been recovered in multiple rain-related incidents in two days in Uttarakhand.
On Friday, five bodies were recovered in a car wreckage in Rudraprayag on the Kedarnath Yatra route.
The police tweeted, "Today, while opening road, a Swift Dzire car numbered UK 07 TB 6315 was recovered under the debris in a highly damaged stage. Bodies of five people travelling in the car were also recovered."
The PTI reported that the accident happened on Thursday night at Tarsali in Phata area on the Kedarnath Yatra route in Rudraprayag district but bodies were recovered on Friday as there was a let-up in incessant rains. While three victims are from Gujarat, one is from Haridwar, and efforts are on to identify the fifth victim.
In the second instance of the recovery of bodies in Rudraprayag, two bodies were found from the debris in Gaurikund from a landslide incident on August 4.
On August 4, three shops were swept away in a landslide and several people were also swept away along with the shops. The incident took place near Daat Puliya close to a rain-fed waterfall and around 50 metres above the Mandakini river which was in spate, according to PTI.
With the recovery of two bodies, the death toll in the incident has risen to seven. Sixteen people still remain missing.
52 killed, 37 injured, damage worth Rs 650 crore: Govt
Uttarakhand has been ravaged by heavy rains for weeks now that have caused landslides, floods, and flash-floods.
A total of 52 people have been killed in various rain-related incidents and 37 have been injured, according to data from State Disaster Management Department shared by ANI.
The State Disaster Management Department further shared that 19 people are still missing in rain-related incidents.
The state has suffered losses worth Rs 650 crore, according to the State Disaster Management Department.
CM Dhami surveys rain-hit Kotwar
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami surveyed the rain-hit Kotdwar on ground and in the air. Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker and local MLA Ritu Khanduri were also present with Dhami during ground inspection.
In Kotdwar, a man had gone missing in a landslide two days ago and several bridges were damaged, cutting off a large population from the rest of the state, reported PTI.
Dhami directed Pauri District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan to work on the repair of the damaged bridge in Gadighati, reported PTI, adding that he also inspected the alternative bridge over Malan River connecting Kotdwar and Bhabar.
Dhami told reporters that the first endeavour of the state government was to restore normalcy which was disrupted by the monsoon rains and to provide quick aid and relief to the people affected by the calamity, following which the damage caused by the disaster in various areas would be assessed and the deficiencies in the arrangements would be rectified.
In a separate report, ANI also reported a statement by the State Disaster Management Department as saying that two helicopters have been kept on stand-by at the orders of Dhami for any work in disaster-hit areas.
