Pithoragarh
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
Heavy rains and cloudbursts have created havoc in North India. Cloudburst occurred at five places in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh. Due to this, roads were broken at many places and traffic on the highway has stopped due to debris. Rivers have swelled due to heavy rains in Haryana-Punjab. With the release of 2.23 lakh cusecs of water from Hathinikund barrage on Saturday, the water level of Hindon and Yamuna will start rising further. The water level of Yamuna has been recorded at 205.75 metres. Due to this, both the danger of water logging in some sectors of Greater Noida and the danger of flood in Delhi-NCR and the difficulties of the citizens have started increasing.
Chhara Khad, Kamal Nadi, Malgad and many other gurdwaras came in spate due to cloudburst in Uttarakhand’s Purola late on Friday night. Water and debris entered the houses. People saved their lives by running away from their homes. Canals, roads and bridges were damaged. Vehicles and motorcycles were swept away. There was a lot of devastation due to cloudburst in Shimla and Kullu of Himachal. Grandparents and grandchildren present at a dhaba in Shimla’s Rohru were washed away. Whereas in Kotkhai, two people were killed in a landslide. On the other hand, the situation has worsened due to cloudburst in Leh and Doda. Due to the rains in Himachal, the water level of Ravi, Sutlej, Beas and Ghaggar in Punjab has increased again. Embankments were breached in Mallewala, Chamal and Bajekan villages in Sirsa due to strong current in Ghaggar in Haryana.
Uttarakhand… 299 roads including Yamunotri Highway stalled
299 roads including Yamunotri Highway are closed. Debris has also come at many places on Kedarnath Highway, but the highway has been opened with the help of JCB in landslide areas. In the last 24 hours, there was 41.1 mm of rain, which is 196 per cent more than normal. Heavy rain is expected on Sunday as well.
Jammu and Kashmir: Chenab towards danger mark
The water level of Chenab is moving towards the danger mark. Chirala tehsil in Doda has lost contact with the headquarters. There is flood situation in Leh of Ladakh due to cloudburst.
Himachal: Five feet increased water in Renuka lake
696 roads are closed in the state. The water level of Sirmaur’s historic Renuka lake rose by five feet, flooding shops and ashrams. Kalka-Shimla National Highway has been made one way. Shimla-Kinnaur and Nahan-Shimla NH remained stalled. Air services remained closed at Gaggal and Bhuntar airports.
Bus stuck in swollen river
A roadways bus going from Rupaidiha (Bahraich) in UP to Haridwar got stuck due to a sudden surge in the Kotavali river of Bijnor at eight in the morning. This cost the lives of 43 passengers including the driver and conductor. The bus was somehow prevented from flowing into the river by a crane and the passengers were pulled out of the JCB in an operation that lasted for about three hours.
Delhi government ready to drain water
The Delhi government has said that Yamuna Khadar may be inundated when water from Hathinikund barrage reaches Delhi. In such a situation, vigilance is being exercised. The government is fully prepared for immediate evacuation in sensitive areas. Relief camps are being inspected. He has appealed to the people to be alert and cooperate with the officers.
- Due to rising water of Hindon river in Ghaziabad, nine colonies of Karhera were submerged. Due to this, more than 800 families had to leave their homes and take shelter in relief camps or other places. With the help of 15 tractors, the administration is engaged in evacuating the people trapped in the flood.
- Seeing the rising water level of Hindon, the administration in Greater Noida has issued a flood alert. Immediately vacate the submerged area and appeal to the people to reach a safe place. Double water than normal is being released in the river from Ghaziabad Barrage.
- There are chances of rain and thundershowers at many places in western UP including NCR on Monday. On July 25, there may be heavy rains in western UP.