Uttarakhand on high alert after two killed due to incessant rains

The highways connecting the Char Dhams-Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri-remained closed on Sunday.

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Uttarakhand on high alert after two killed due to incessant rains
A road blocked due to landslide in Kedar valley.

Blocked road in Kedar valley
A road blocked due to landslide in Kedar valley.

Heavy rains and rising rivers in Uttarakhand have brought back the haunting memories of last year's flood disaster. Two people have been killed and as many swept away in the hill state even as it witnessed incessant showers for the fifth consecutive day on Sunday.

With the meteorological department having predicted heavy rainfall in many parts of the state till July 23, Uttarakhand is on a high alert.

Damaged bridge near Sonprayag
A damaged bridge near Sonprayag.

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The highways connecting the Char Dhams-Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri-remained closed on Sunday. Almora, Ranikhet, Nainital, Haldwani, Gadarpur, Bajpur, Pithoragarh and Devprayag received heavy rainfall on Sunday. Owing to bad weather and poor road conditions, the Kedarnath Yatra has been further suspended till July 23 and Badrinath Yatra till July 21.

"A woman was buried alive on Saturday evening after a landslide in Ukhimath in Rudraprayag district while an old man was killed as a cowshed collapsed at Lohaghat in Champavat district," a Disaster Mitigation and Management Centre spokesperson said on Sunday. The official also said that two persons were swept away by the strong currents of two different rivers at in Garhwal and Kumaon region. About a 100-metre portion of the Joshimath-Badrinath highway was washed away at Lambager and fixing it will take some time, authorities said.

Joshimath-Badrinath highway
A large part of the Joshimath-Badrinath highway has been washed away.

The Rishikesh-Kedarnath highway is blocked at three points and the Uttarakashi-Gangotri highway at one point. But the Rishikesh-Yamunotri highway remains operational. Residents of Nainital remained indoors on Sunday as the district received 116 mm rainfall . A total of 34 roads were blocked in Nainital, including the Nainital-Kaladhungi National Highway. Pauri is the worsthit as about 60 roads of the district remain blocked. Thirteen roads of Almora were also damaged.

However, residents of Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Rudarprayag witnessed slightly clear Sunday with occasional light rainfall. While Almora received 60 mm and Ranikhet 50 mm of rains, Haldwani witnessed 145 mm, Gadarpur 45 mm, Bajpur 70 mm, Pithoragarh 39 mm and Devprayag 50 mm.

All the major rivers across the state, including Ganga, Bhagirathi, Alaknanda, Mandakini, Kali, Saryu and Sharda are in spate but still flowing below the danger mark. People living close to the banks of these rivers have already been asked to move to safer places as a precautionary measure. Gola, Nandaur and Kosi rivers in Kumaon region are also on the rise with incessant rains prompting authorities to ask people living in their catchment areas.

- With PTI inputs

'State govt is creating environment of fear'

Ramdev
Ramdev during his trek to Gaumukh from Gangotri.

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Yoga guru Ramdev has completed his spiritual tour of Gangotri. Though the weather favoured Ramdev and his followers for most of their 18-km trek from Gangotri to Gaumukh, the group had to face harsh rains on their return journey to Uttarkashi by road.

The group got stuck near Bhatwari and had to spend the night at the Pilot Baba ashram on July 18 before reaching Uttarkashi on Saturday. After his return, the yoga guru accused the Uttarakhand government of creating a fearful environment to hamper the growth of religious tourism. "It is rather unfortunate that I have been dragged into unnecessary controversy for my work. All the supporters who accompanied me in the spiritual journey to Gaumukh were adults. Our group had no children. Efforts are being made to create an environment of fear in the backdrop of heavy rains. Instead, religious tourism should be promoted in a big way in Uttarakhand," Ramdev said.

Ramdev was accused of taking schoolchildren with him on the tough Gaumukh trek. Uttarakhand's director general of police B.S. Sidhu had even warned of taking action against the Baba if the children got hurt during the journey. The Gangotri National Park authorities had given permit to a 151-member group for visiting Gaumukh.

Ramdev also gave his advisory on travelling in the hills during the monsoon. "It is obvious that in the rainy season, there will be roadblocks. But the pilgrims should come with a tour plan and stay back an additional one or two days as they might get stuck due to bad weather and damaged roads," he said. The yoga guru started his 18-km trek for Gaumukh on July 16.