Heavy rains in U'khand claim 48 lives

Heavy rains continued to play havoc in Uttarakhand, claiming 48 lives  Since Saturday. Rains also triggered cloudbursts, landslides and floods, rendering hundreds of people homeless. Remote areas of Almora, Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts remained cut off from the rest of the state because of heavy rains, hampering rescue and relief work.Almora was the worst affected, with the number of deaths in the district being 26. Many houses were also damaged in the downpour.

Eleven deaths were reported from Nainital while two casualties were reported from the Uttarkashi and Chamoli districts.
 

About seven persons were killed in Haridwar district due to flooding and house collapse.

On Sunday, state Minister for Disaster Management Khazan Das visited many affected areas, including Haridwar and Rishikesh where the Ganga was flowing above the danger mark. “The situation is grim and officials have been asked to remain alert,” Das said.

Major rivers were flowing above the danger mark. The Ganga was flowing two-three metres above the danger mark at Haridwar, inundating several areas of the district with Har-Ki-Pauri being completely submerged in the waters.
 

Similarly, Yamuna, Kosi, Ramganga and other major rivers in the state were flowing above the danger mark and the authorities issued warnings to  people living close to these rivers to move to safer areas.

The meteorological department has forecast more rain in the next 24 hours and issued a fresh warning of landslides and cloudbursts.

In Delhi, the National Disaster Management Authority has  dispatched nearly 200 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force along with 45 boats to Uttrakhand.