IMD Issues a Red Alert for Two Days in Uttarakhand, Warns of Localized Flooding and Landslides, and Reports Seven Dead in Two Days
On Saturday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red signal for the next two days for Uttarakhand.
Localized floods and landslides are anticipated amid very severe to very heavy rains, according to the IMD.
The red signal from the IMD comes as Uttarakhand has been dealing with weeks of nonstop rain that have resulted in several landslides, floods, and flash floods, killed scores in weather-related accidents, and left several others unaccounted for.
IMD issues a red warning and forecasts rainfall of above 200 mm
On Saturday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red signal for the days of Sunday and Monday for Uttarakhand.
The IMD forecast that more than 200 mm of rain might fall in Uttarakhand during the next two days.
On the 13th and 14th of August, Uttarakhand is expected to see exceptionally severe rainfall (more than 204.4 mm). Localized floods and landslides might have an effect, according to IMD’s advisory posted on Twitter.
The Dehradun Meteorological Center had already issued an orange notice for Friday for the districts of Tehri, Dehradun, Pauri, Champawat, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar and a red alert for Saturday-Monday, according to PTI. This was before the IMD’s advisory on Saturday.
Expected are localized floods, landslides, and waterlogging.
The IMD has forecasted a variety of probable effects of severe to very heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand over the next four days.
The IMD mentioned the following likely effects for August 12–16 in Uttarakhand in a news release on Saturday:
Water logging in low-lying places, closure of underpasses, and localized flooding of highways, particularly in metropolitan areas
sometimes reduced vision brought on by heavy rain
large city traffic congestion brought on by water logging on the roadways, which lengthens travel times
Minor kutcha road damage
Damage possibilities to a weak structure
Localized mudslides and landslides in steep locations
Inundation-related harm to horticulture and standing crops in certain regions
In certain river catchments, it might cause floods.
7 corpses were found in 2 days.
In two days, various rain-related accidents in Uttarakhand have resulted in the recovery of seven dead.
On the Kedarnath Yatra route in Rudraprayag on Friday, five dead were found in a vehicle disaster.
According to a tweet from the police, a Swift Dzire with the UK 07 TB 6315 registration number was found beneath the rubble in a seriously damaged state. The bodies of five passengers in the automobile were also found.
According to the PTI, the disaster occurred on Thursday night in Tarsali in the Phata neighborhood on the Kedarnath Yatra route in the Rudraprayag region. However, corpses weren’t found until Friday because of a break in the relentless rain. While one victim is from Haridwar and three of the victims are from Gujarat, attempts are being made to locate the fifth victim.
Two corpses were recovered from the rubble of a landslide in Gaurikund on August 4 in the second case of body retrieval in Rudraprayag.
On August 4, three businesses were destroyed by a landslide, and numerous persons were also killed. According to PTI, the event happened close to Daat Puliya, near a rain-fed waterfall, and around 50 meters above the Mandakini river, which was swollen.
The number of fatalities in the tragedy has increased to seven with the retrieval of two corpses. There are still 16 persons missing.
52 dead, 37 wounded, and 650 crore rupees in damages: government
Since many weeks ago, torrential rains have devastated Uttarakhand, causing landslides, floods, and flash floods.
Various rain-related occurrences have resulted in the deaths of 52 persons and the injuries of 37 others, according to statistics from the State Disaster Management Department given by ANI.
19 persons are still missing as a result of rain-related occurrences, according to the State Disaster Management Department.
The State Disaster Management Department estimates that the state has incurred damages of Rs 650 crore.
CM Dhami examines Kotwar after the rain
Pushkar Singh Dhami, the chief minister of Uttarakhand, flew over and examined the flooded Kotdwar. Ritu Khanduri, the local MLA and speaker of the Uttarakhand Assembly, was accompanying Dhami when he conducted the ground inspection.
A man was reported missing in a landslide in Kotdwar two days before, and multiple bridges there were destroyed, shutting off a sizable portion of the population from the rest of the state, according to PTI.
According to PTI, Dhami instructed Pauri District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan to concentrate on repairing the Gadighati bridge that was destroyed. He also examined the alternate bridge across the Malan River that connects Kotdwar and Bhabar.
According to Dhami, the state government’s first priority is to quickly aid those affected by the disaster and restore normalcy, which was disrupted by the monsoon rains. After that, the damage the disaster caused in various areas will be assessed, and any shortcomings in the arrangements will be fixed.
Two helicopters have been put on standby at Dhami’s request for any work in disaster-hit regions, according to a statement from the State Disaster Management Department, which was also published by ANI in a separate report.
