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Cloudbursts claim 30 lives in Uttarakhand

The onset of Monsoon rains in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand has once again brought with it natural calamity and human misery. In incidents of cloudbursts across the state at least 30 persons were killed and many were missing as torrential rains and landslides hit Pithoragarh and Chamoli districts on Friday, burying villages in sludge with many residents trapped under the debris. 

Rishikesh-Badrinath national highway remained closed due to landslide debris coming onto the road.
State chief minister Harish Rawat, who was scheduled meet a Central minister in New Delhi, rushed back to the state Capital on Friday and was keeping a close watch on  rescue operations from the State Disaster Management Centre in the state secretariat. “Many people are still trapped under tonnes of debris brought on by the heavy rains. ITBP, SDRF and paramilitary personnel are involved in rescue work,” Rawat said.

“I am personally monitoring the situation. We will give them (kin of victims) immediate compensation of Rs two lakh as per norms,” the chief minister added.

According to reports reaching Dehradun, eight persons were killed in cloudburst in Pithoragarh district whereas four lives were claimed by heavy rains in Chamoli district. Two persons were swept away by the muddy waters and debris rushing down the slopes into Siron village in Chamoli.

Due to the cloudburst, river Alaknanda, which caused major devastation in 2013, was flowing above the danger mark. Two houses in ghat area of Chamoli district were washed away in a flash flood in River Mandakini; reports suggest that other houses too were in danger. There are reports that water level had risen at Nandaprayag too.

One person was killed in Ghat block and another in Sithel village in similar circumstances, SDM Chamoli S K Barnwal said, adding eight persons trapped in the debris have been rescued in the district so far.

The cloudburst in Singhali area of Pithorgarh district early Friday morning brought over 100 mm rain in two hours in a region of 50 sq km, flattening homes in over seven villages, according to officials. 

“We have recovered five bodies from Singhali area while three bodies have been recovered from Thal village. The search is on for others by rescue parties consisting of army and paramilitary personnel,” Pithoragarh District Magistrate HC Semwal said.

Meanwhile, the Centre on Friday rushed rescue teams of National Disaster Response Force to Uttarakhand and assured the hill state of all necessary help. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Chief Minister Harish Rawat on phone and took stock of the situation arising out of the cloudburst and heavy rains in Pithoragarh and Chamoli districts. Singh assured Rawat of all possible assistance.

“NDRF teams have been rushed to the areas affected by cloudburst in Uttarakhand. Additional teams of NDRF are also put on alert,” Singh said. The home minister also expressed his deep pain at loss of lives and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The Prime Minister too has expressed grief at the loss of life and property in the torrential rains in the state.

Given the forecast of more rains during the next 72 hours the state administration has issued an alert to remain prepared to deal with any eventuality caused by natural calamity. All 13 District Magistrates in the state have been directed to move the people living low-lying areas near the river to safer places.
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