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Uttarakhand Rains: Over 1,300 people have been evacuated from flood-affected areas in Uttarakhand. (File)
New Delhi:
Heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand for the fourth 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.
Uttarakhand’s Ranikhet and Almora were completely cut off from plains for the second straight day today due to heavy rain and landslides, while connectivity in Nainital disappeared for most of the day yesterday.
At least 46 people have been reported dead in the state, many of whom were found in the rubble of collapsed buildings, as a result of aggressive landslides and flash floods. The casualties have left authorities fearing for the lives of people who may be trapped under debris.
However, over 1,300 people have now been evacuated from Uttarakhand by the National Disaster Response Force.
Meanwhile, Kerala braces itself for another spell of downpour from today. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) data shows that the southern state has received 135 per cent excess rain during the period from October 1 to 19.
During the heavy spell on October 16 when the IMD issued a red alert indicating extremely heavy rainfall, numerous incidents of landslips and other rain-related accidents were reported from south-central districts of Kerala, resulting in 39 people dead and 217 homes destroyed.
“39 people, who would have lived for many years, were killed in the four days of torrential rains, floods and landslides. The tragedy has caused irreparable loss to their family members. The House is sharing their pain with a broken heart,” the Chief Minister said in the Assembly.
Here are the Live Updates on the Rains and Floods nationwide, including in Uttarakhand and Kerala:
After inspecting the landslide area near Vishnuprayag on Badrinath National Highway in rain-battered Uttarakhand, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was on Wednesday directed to clear the route from Joshimath to Badrinath, informed Chamoli District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana.
“The landslide area near Vishnuprayag on Badrinath National Highway was inspected and the BRO has been directed to clear the route from Joshimath to Badrinath at the earliest,” said Mr Khurana.
The district administration on Tuesday informed that Badrinath Highway in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand has been completely blocked due to debris at seven places following incessant rains over the last 48 hours.
There has been a power cut as well since Monday night in several areas including the district headquarters.
As a precautionary measure, the Badrinath Char Dham Yatra has been halted, and passengers en route to Badrinath Temple were stopped and shifted to safer places.
According to the administration, 2,500 devotees, who had gone to Badrinath, are still stationed at the Badrinath Temple waiting for the highway to re-open.
One of the pillars has gone down a little due to heavy rain & accumulation of water as per our initial assessment. So, in the interest of safety of people, we are suspending the use of the bridge, except for 2 wheelers & pedestrians, for the time being: Gaurav Sharma, CP Siliguri pic.twitter.com/W5PTfgURu6
– ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2021
A high-level Inter-Ministerial Central Team visited various districts of Assam for an on-spot assessment of damages caused by flood and landslides this year, while the state government urged it for release of funds for repair and restoration works, an official statement said on Wednesday.
On the visit since October 19, the team comprising seven members from various union ministries discussed the details at a meeting with senior Assam government officials in Guwahati on Wednesday.
The state government has requested the team for release of Rs 1088.19 crore it had sought for repair and restoration works, the statement issued by Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said.
The team headed by Manish Tiwari, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, talked about the damages and loss of livelihood and property in the districts of Bongaigaon, Chirang and Lakhimpur it had visited.
“The state government urged the central team to consider releasing funds under the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for restoration of damages during current year flood,” the statement said.
It said the team was also requested to consider erosion as an item admissible under SDRF/NDRF in their report to the Centre as the state suffers heavily due to river erosion every year.
West Bengal: Movement of traffic on Balason Bridge in Siliguri’s Matigara suspended today, except for two-wheelers and pedestrians, following slight dislocation in one of the pillars of the bridge due to heavy rain. pic.twitter.com/zPNXav5cOW
– ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2021
Torrential rains pounded the tiny Himalayan state of Sikkim and the tea growing region of North Bengal, causing landslides which cut off National Highway-10, the main road linking Gangtok with the rest of the country.
Normal life in parts of the tea growing north Bengal was also affected on Wednesday as torrential showers in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri districts triggered landslides causing damages to roads and bridges, halting or constricting traffic in various places, officials said.
Hundreds of tourists, who have thronged the hills during the Durga Puja season, are facing difficulties in travelling to their next destination or reaching railway stations or the Bagdogra airport to return home, owing to the incessant rain and landslides, officials said.
The incessant downpour Wednesday saw landslides blocking the crucial National Highway-10, used both by civilian and military traffic, at the 29th Mile area in West Bengal, around 60 km from the Himalayan state’s Rangpo border.
Another landslide occurred at Pani House here this morning, disrupting vehicular movement, officials said.
Attempts were on to remove the debris from the road to reopen it at least partially.
Tourists who arrived in Nainital before Uttarakhand experienced heavy rain & landslide recently, speak of their experience
Ankit, from Delhi, says, “Came here on 17th Oct. There was power cut, our phone died & we ran out of money. We used hotel’s phone to call home for money.” pic.twitter.com/UGK2heWReg
– ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2021
Sikkim Rains: Heavy Rains Trigger Multiple Landslides, Snap BridgesNormal life was thrown out of gear in Sikkim today as torrential rain caused landslides at several places, blocking the National Highway-10 and snapping the arterial road link with neighbouring West Bengal, officials said.
Sikkim Update:
Four metal support pillars of Rangpo Bridge on National Highway-10 connecting Sikkim to Bengal were swept away last night due to heavy flow of water in the Teesta river. The authorities have started restricting movement of vehicles on the bridge.
The downpour also damaged crops and properties at several places, the officials said.
Another landslide occurred at Pani House this morning, disrupting vehicular movement, the officials said, adding that the efforts were underway to remove the debris from the road.
As the rain continued to batter the state, a large number of people have been rescued to safe places and relief materials have been sent to the affected areas.
A total of 17 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are conducting rescue and relief operations amid heavy rains in Uttarakhand, said NDRF Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mohsen Shahedi on Wednesday.
Talking to ANI, Shahed informed that as many as 1,300 people had been evacuated and taken to safe places across the state, while 46 people have lost their lives.
Uttarakhand Director-General of Police (DGP) Ashok Kumar today said that the route to Nainital from Kaladhungi, which was blocked due to heavy rain that triggered a series of landslides, has been reopened and that tourists have safely left the area.
“The route for Nainital from Kaladhungi has re-opened. All the tourists stuck at that place have left and are safe,” said the DGP.
The senior police officer has however said that the main road from Haldwani to Almora continues to be blocked and it will take time to restore the connectivity.
Torrential rains in the neighbouring states of Sikkim and West Bengal have damaged bridges and roads and left scores of tourists stranded.
West Bengal Update:
Darjeeling and north Bengal are particularly impacted, such that several roads in Darjeeling have been blocked after 36 hours of incessant rainfall that has triggered landslides.
A cloudburst over Bengal’s Kalimpong last night turned the Teesta and its tributaries into raging rivers.
Following heavy rain, one of the landslides hit the highway at 29th Mile area in West Bengal, around 60 km from Sikkim’s Rangpo border.
At the Balason Bridge at Bengal’s Siliguri connecting the hills to Bagdogra Airport, a pillar has bent, forcing police to shut it. Only two wheelers are being allowed.
At least 60 to 70 tourists are stranded near Lava in Kalimpong due to landslides in city where there has also been a casualty in a road accident due to a treefall.
The police have issued an advisory to avoid all non-essential travel in the affected districts.
Yesterday, the weather office had issued red alert warning for Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Today, that has stepped down to yellow. But Orange flags are up for the other north Bengal districts, including Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar.
Unseasonal rainfall creates havoc in several parts of the country; many tourists stranded in remote locations in #Uttarakhand. pic.twitter.com/zDkxJyhaG8
– NDTV (@ndtv) October 20, 2021
Kerala Rains: Ham Radios To Aid Rescue Operation During Heavy Floods In State
Even as the incessant rains and resultant flooding disrupted lives across central Kerala, ham radio enthusiasts have quietly swung into action in Thrissur district, setting up their unique work stations to ensure a steady stream of communication.
The district administration in Kerala has sought the service of Ham radio operators to coordinate disaster relief operations in case the communication system gets cut off due to any rain-related incident.
Kerala Rains: 39 dead, 217 Homes Destroyed In Devastating Landslides And Flash Floods, Says Chief Minister
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today said a total of 39 people had lost their lives and 217 houses had been destroyed completely in the devastating landslides and flash floods that had occurred in the south-central districts of the state recently.
Expressing profound grief over the rain-related calamities, Mr Vijayan said the unexpected tragedy was unbearable not only for the victims’ family members but also for the entire state.
“39 people, who would have lived for many years, were killed in the four days of torrential rains, floods and landslides. The tragedy has caused irreparable loss to their family members. The House is sharing their pain with a broken heart,” the Chief Minister said in the Assembly.
Assuring that the government would never abandon the grieving families, he said its care and consideration would be reflected in the rescue and relief measures and the restoration of their livelihood conditions.
#UPDATE | One more dead body was recovered by NDRF team in Nainital district’s Ramgarh area today. An incident of cloudburst was reported here yesterday.
– ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2021
Connectivity to Nainital was restored late last night after hours of struggle, officials told PTI.
With electricity, telecom and internet connectivity in city remaining badly hit throughout the day yesterday, the services were still patchy even after restoration, added officials.
Uttarakhand Rains: Stranded Tourists In Nainital Trek Their Way to SafetyAs heavy rain and landslides blocked connectivity to Uttarakhand’s Nainital, one of the country’s most popular mountain getaways, scores of stranded tourists had to trek their way to safety on Tuesday.
Visuals this morning showed men, women and children being evacuated by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The tourists were seen walking with their belongings on a hillside ravaged by three-day rain that caused rockfalls and landslides, cutting off roads in Nainital.
#WATCH | Uttarakhand: SDRF carried out rescue operations in residential areas of Rudrapur in Udham Singh Nagar district, which faces a flood-like situation due to rainfall.
SDRF Commandant Navneet Singh also joined in the rescue operations. (19.10.2021) pic.twitter.com/0LKc2TmJ08
– ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2021
Uttarakhand Floods: Uttarakhand’s Ranikhet, Almora Cut Off Amid Rain, Fuel Only For EmergencyUttarakhand’s Ranikhet and Almora remain cut off from the plains – and the former was today forced to ration fuel for emergency services – for a second consecutive day, as the hilly state battles floods and landslides triggered by four consecutive days of heavy rain.
There is little or no fuel available in Ranikhet (around 320 km from Dehradun); what is left has been reserved for emergency services. Low-voltage electricity has been restored after 24 hours, and fibre optic cables (providing telephone and internet services) have been cut in multiple locations.
In Almora (around 345 km from Dehradun), seven people died yesterday, news agency ANI reported.
Overall, at least 46 people have died in rain-related incidents across the state; senior police officer Nilesh Anand Bharne told news agency PTI 47 had died, with most deaths (42) in the Kumaon region.
Uttarakhand: A stretch of road being cleared with the help of machines in Jeolikote of Nainital district, near which an incident of landslide took place. pic.twitter.com/ZDYTQs5xlI
– ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2021
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