Dehradun:

Heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand for the third consecutive day has led to chaos and disaster across the hilly state, with flooded roads and buildings, destroyed bridges and overflowing water bodies leaving locals and tourists stranded – some in remote and dangerous locations.

Sixteen people have been reported dead, including labourers from Nepal who were buried alive by rubble, and people from Champawat district where a house collapsed after a landslide. The casualties have left authorities fearing for the lives of people who may be trapped under debris.

“Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah have been briefed on the situation. Houses, bridges etc. have been damaged and 16 people have died so far. Three (Army) helicopters to be deployed for rescue operations,” Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was quoted by news agency ANI.

Amid the chaos, the Nainital lake has overflowed, an under-construction bridge over the Chalthi river has been washed away due to a rise in water levels, and a car with passengers inside got caught between two boulders in the middle of a swollen stream.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Uttarakhand with a forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the state on Monday.

In what will come as some relief going forward, the weather department has indicated a “significant reduction in rainfall activity over Uttarakhand from today”, predicting “isolated to scattered” showers.

Here are the LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand Rains and Floods:

About 200 people who were stuck at Lemon Tree resort located at Ramnagar-Ranikhet route have been evacuated

So far 24-25 dead due to incessant rains, maximum casualties from Nainital district: DGP Ashok Kumar

(file photo) pic.twitter.com/P5m2FeCOoM

– ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2021

Uttarakhand Rains: Nainital Cut Off From Rest Of State With Roads Blocked
Incessant rains continued to lash various parts of Uttarakhand today, especially the Kumaon region, razing houses to the ground and leaving many trapped in the debris.

Nainital was cut off from the rest of the state with three roads leading to the popular tourist spot blocked due to a series of landslides.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami assured that three Army helicopters will soon arrive to assist in relief and rescue operations underway in the state.

Uttarakhand Floods: Death count so far rises to 16 amid incessant rainfall and landslides

Sixteen people have been reported dead, including labourers from Nepal who were buried alive by rubble, and people from Champawat district where a house collapsed after a landslide. The casualties have left authorities fearing for the lives of people who may be trapped under debris.

“Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah have been briefed on the situation. Houses, bridges etc. have been damaged and 16 people have died so far. Three (Army) helicopters to be deployed for rescue operations,” Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was quoted by news agency ANI.

Uttarakhand Rains: Video Of Elephant Stranded In Rain-Battered Uttarakhand Rescued
Ten teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are on duty in the state. NDRF chief Satya Pradhan tweeted some photos and videos this morning that showed rescue personnel in action in the rain-battered town of Rudraprayag.

While many such videos are being shared on social media, a clip of an elephant stranded in the raging flood at Nainital near the Jim Corbett Park went viral earlier today.

Uttarakhand Rains: State Disaster Response Force conducts overnight rescue operations
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)  in Uttarakhand has teams conducting overnight rescue operations, amid a flood-like situation triggered by heavy rains in the state.

The SDRF said that today was very challenging due to incessant heavy rain. The calls for rescue kept on coming throughout the night and a quick response was given by the teams.

On Monday, in the overnight operation, the rescue team conducted many operations in different places across the state and rescued over 50 people, including 22 devotees stuck in incessant rainfall while returning from the Kedarnath temple, four labourers and many vehicles that were stuck in debris due to the landslide, and a girl trapped in a collapsed house.

Uttarakhand Rains: 22 devotees stuck in incessant rainfall while returning from Kedarnath temple rescued

State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rescues 22 devotees stuck at Jungle Chatti in incessant rainfall while returning from the Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand.

Uttarakhand Rains: People feared trapped under debris after a sudden heavy rainstorm (“cloudburst”) in a village in Nainital

Uttarakhand: An incident of cloudburst reported in a village of Ramgarh in Nainital district. People feared trapped under the debris. Teams of Police and administration rushed to the spot. Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/B1qTzUIzZI

– ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2021

Uttarakhand Rains: 100 people stranded at Lemon Tree Resort on Ramnagar-Ranikhet route

Around 100 people were stuck at Lemon Tree Resort (in pics) located at Ramnagar-Ranikhet route. All of them are safe & process to rescue them is on. Water from Kosi River entered the resort after the river overflowed, blocking the route to the resort: Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar pic.twitter.com/2UUmWJaaYR

– ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2021

Uttarakhand Rains: Visuals of overflowing rivers and flooded roads

As heavy rains hit Uttarakhand hard these past three days, the state has come to be completely flooded, as the Nainital lake overflows and Chalthi river overpowers and washes away an under-construction bridge.

Uttarakhand Rains: No electricity in Ranikhet since morning, says Congress member Sharmistha Mukherjee

I’m here somewhere near Ranikhet. Incessant rains since last 2 days. No electricity since morning. Mobile working so far. Huge tree fell & blocked the road just 100 meters away from where I’m staying. Main roads blocked at places. Seems can’t get back at least for next few days. https://t.co/r4WPw8v30rpic.twitter.com/qpedalwxF5

– Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) October 19, 2021

Watch: Dramatic Rescue As Car Stuck Between Rocks In Uttarakhand Rain
A car, with passengers on board, was pulled to safety by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) after it got stuck in a landslide in Uttarakhand on Monday.

The car, precariously perched between two boulders, with powerful water currents passing underneath it, lurched, swayed and was finally dragged to safety by an earthmover, rescuing the occupants that were stuck at the swollen Lambagad Nallah near Badrinath National Highway.

Uttarakhand Rain: Nainital Lake overflows and floods the streets

#WATCH | Uttarakhand: Nainital Lake overflows and floods the streets in Nainital & enters building and houses here. The region is receiving incessant heavy rainfall. pic.twitter.com/G2TLfNqo21

– ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2021

Uttarakhand Floods: 4 Dead As Rain Batters Uttarakhand, Pictures, Videos Show Flooding, Damage

Heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand over the past three days has led to scenes of chaos and disaster across the hilly state, with flooded roads and buildings, destroyed bridges and overflowing rivers leaving locals and tourists stranded – some in remote and dangerous locations.

At least four people have been killed so far,  including labourers from Nepal who were staying near Lansdowne in Pauri district when rubble flowing down from a field above buried them alive, District Magistrate Vijay Kumar Jogdande said.

Some were also killed after their house collapsed in Champawat district, where an under-construction bridge (over the Chalthi river) has been washed away due to a rise in water levels.

#WATCH | An under construction bridge, over a raging Chalthi River in Champawat, washed away due to rise in the water level caused by incessant rainfall in parts of Uttarakhand. pic.twitter.com/AaLBdClIwe

– ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2021