Flash Flood creates havoc in Uttrakhand

            Flash flood kills more than 40 
       and 100 missing in Uttarkashi

by Rajen Todariya

A worst nightmare since 1991 Earthquake hit Uttarkashi near China border. Series  of cloud bursts in the catchment of Bhagirathi and its tributary Assi Ganga had created havoc in the Bhagirathi valley . 40 people reported died so far and more than 100 people are missing after flash flood. Hundreds of pilgrims stranded in different part of Garhwal region. Thousands of people are still living under the fear of natural calamity in Uttarkashi and its adjoining areas. State Government ordered to stop Chardham Yatra and department of disaster management sounded high alert in the hills of Uttrakhand. Met department warned of heavy rains . State government shouted the help of army to help the flood affected people. A motor bridge at Gangori on Gangotri highway has washed away while one suspension bridge and a motor bridge on Bhagirathi had been destroyed by the flash flood. Harsil, Bhatwari and Gangotri have been cut off from the nation due to the flood. So far a loss of Rs 600 crores was estimated but this figure may go high, disclosed a officer in District Magistrate’s office. More than 300 people were shifted in safer places in Uttarkashi.

         

A Hotel  in Joshiyada, Uttarkashi  

More than 20 people are reported missing from Gangori, Dunda, Uttarkashi town and Barkot areas in the district . Although District Magistrate of  Uttarkashi.claimed that administration has launched a manhunt for the missing people..More than ten jawans of the fire brigade department and two others  feared washed away  in towering flood of Assi Ganga at Gangori .Bhagirathi is flowing above the danger level  in whole Uttarkashi district. So far 300 people had been evacuated and shifted to safer areas.Two more people were killed in Dunda area of Uttarkashi district.While two children were killed in a house collapse at Kararnprayag area of Chamoli district early today, another child was washed away in flash floods at Pokhri area of the district where landslides continue to hit blocking highways leading to Badrinath. Hundreds of Badrinath pilgrims were stranded at various places at Patalganga, Lambagar and Birahi due to fresh landslips.

The Teerath yatra for Kedarnath shrine was also suspended till further order, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna told newsmen in Dehradun. The government has launched relief and rescue operations but heavy rains were hampering them, top officials said.food packets are being sent to the affected people. Government sources claimed that Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna is himself monitoring the situation. The CM said his government would provide food and other essential items to the stranded pilgrims.

Although government’s officials are claiming that necessary arrangements had been made to help the flood hit population but district administration of Uttarkashi is still clueless about the actual situations in the catchment areas of Assi Ganga, Dodi tal and remote areas of Bhagirathi valley. There is no information still came from the affected areas. It is learnt that acres of forests, rocks and soil had been washed away by the series of cloud burst. Nobody knows that what the actual amount of destruction was. Department of Disaster management once again caught unaware of the natural calamity. No minister or senior officer from capital was able to reach Uttarkashi. The road connectivity from Gangori to Gangotri has completely cut off because the bridge was washed away. Government has no option to resolve this problem. No relief measurements can possible without resolving the problem of connectivity. It is a matter of great concern that no warning of cloud burst was shouted by the Disaster management department. There is no flood warning system has been established by the state Government from Gangotri to Uttarkashi. The general public was of the view that the casualties were higher if flash flood would reach late in the night in Uttarkashi.