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Rescue ops stepped up in flood-hit northern states as rain relents
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A flooded locality along the banks of Yamuna river after rise in its water level following release of water from the Hathinikund Barrage, in New Delhi on August 20. PTI photo

Rescue ops stepped up in flood-hit northern states as rain relents

Although rains showed a let up in several states of northern India, the total death toll reached 60 on Tuesday (August 20) and the flood situation remained grim as rivers rose to dangerous levels, stranding people in several areas and leading to the evacuation of many others.

The Federal
20 Aug 2019 9:41 AM GMT  (Updated:2019-08-20 11:30:26)

Although rains showed a let up in several states of northern India, the total death toll reached 60 on Tuesday (August 20) and the flood situation remained grim as rivers rose to dangerous levels, stranding people in several areas and leading to the evacuation of many others. Recue and relief operations are underway in several parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi which have been left battered by the floods, cloudburst and landslides caused by relentless rains.

Delhi

The Delhi government sounded flood alert for the city as river Yamuna crossed the danger mark on Tuesday. Water level in the river flowed above the danger level at 206 metres at 11 am.

In view of the lurking danger, more than 10,000 people living in low-lying areas along the Yamuna in the city were evacuated by government agencies as the river breached the danger mark on Monday (August 19) evening.

Authorities in Delhi have shut the Old Iron Yamuna Bridge for vehicular and rail traffic. On Monday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the water level in the river is likely to rise further with more discharge from the Hathnikund barrage by neighbouring Haryana. People living in the floodplain of the river have been moved to over 22,000 tents set up by various Delhi government agencies at safer places.

Uttarakhand

The death toll due to cloudburst in Mori subdivision of Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand reached 12, with two more bodies being recovered on Monday. The cloudburst damaged several houses in Arakot, Makuri and Tikochi villages. According to reports, most rivers in Uttarakhand are overflowing, with the Ganga crossing the danger mark in Haridwar. Landslides also left many tourists and residents stranded in several parts of the state.

The Uttarakhand government on Tuesday deployed three helicopters to transport relief materials including drinking water, food packets, blankets, and medicines from Dehradun/Arakot to affected villages. The choppers have done 20 sorties so far. The Kailash Mansarovar yatra via the Lipulekh route has been stopped due to landslides. Pithoragarh district magistrate VK Jogdande the 17th batch of 56 pilgrims were called to the Dharchula base camp.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat visited the affected areas of Arakot, Makudi, Digoli and Tikocchi in Uttarkashi. “The government will leave no stone unturned to provide all possible help to the affected people. Instructions have been given to provide proper treatment to the injured in the disaster,” he tweeted.

In an earlier meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Rawat apprised him of the situation caused by excessive rainfall and natural calamity in the state. Shah assured the state government of all possible help.

Punjab and Haryana

No fresh spell of rainfall was reported on Tuesday morning in Punjab and Haryana, though a flood-like situation prevailed in many parts of both the states after heavy rains over the past few days. Although the water-level has started receding in some of the affected areas, many villages in Ludhiana, Rupnagar and Jalandhar remained inundated because of breaches in earthen dams of the Sutlej river.

The weather was clear in most parts of both the states, an official of the Meteorological (MeT) Department said. Following heavy rains in past few days and release of excess water from the Bhakra Dam, the swollen Sutlej river and its tributaries had inundated villages in several areas, including Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Ferozepur and Rupnagar, causing extensive damage to crops, especially paddy, and houses in low-lying areas.

Rescue operations are being carried out in the affected villages by teams of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF), which were assisted by district authorities in the affected areas, officials said. In Jalandhar, the deputy commissioner along with senior superintendent of police took stock of the situation on Tuesday morning in Mandala village where people were being rescued with the help of the NDRF, they said, adding that boats were pressed into service to evacuate villagers from flood-hit areas.

Due to breaches in earthen dams of the Sutlej river, Phillaur, Shahkot and Lohian Khas in Jalandhar were flooded. District authorities in the affected areas have set up relief camps in order to evacuate stranded villagers to safer places, the officials said. They said all arrangements, including food and water, have been made there.

Declaring the flood situation as a natural calamity, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday allocated ₹ 100 crore emergency relief for affected districts.  The Bhakra Beas Management Board authorities on Monday had decided to increase the release of excess water through spillway gates from 19,000 cusecs to 41,000 cusecs after water level in the Bhakra Dam crossed its permissible limit of 1,680 feet.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday directed all deputy commissioners of the affected districts in the state to make necessary arrangements to deal with any adverse situation caused by rising water level in the Yamuna. Khattar spoke over phone with the deputy commissioners of Yamunanagar, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Karnal and Sonipat and gave them necessary instructions to extend all kinds of assistance to people affected due to heavy rains and floods in these districts. Directions had been issued to evacuate people in affected areas in Yamunanagar, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat and Sonepat to safer places.

Himachal Pradesh

Rescue operations to clear roads continued on Tuesday to reach tourists and residents stranded due to flood and landslides in several parts of the state.

Himachal Pradesh minister RL Markanda who was stuck in Kaza for the past three days was airlifted to Shimla.

In Kullu district, earth mover was used to clear debris from a damaged road due to flood caused by an overflowing river Beas. A landslide blocked the National Highway 3 (Manali-Leh) in Marhi near Rohtang in the district. Near Kullu district, an oil tanker got stuck under a boulder following a landslide.

On Monday, a part of NH-3 was blocked between Manali and Kullu at Seubag after heavy boulders fell on the road. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday held a video conference with district deputy commissioners to assess damaged caused by heavy rains. Government sources said relief work is being conducted on war footing in affected areas and urged residents to cooperate with the administration till the weather conditions improved.

Meanwhile, Malayalam film crew with actor Manju Warrier has been stranded in the floods in Himachal Pradesh. They were at Chhatru, about 100 kms away from Manali, for shooting for Sanal Kumar’s latest film. Minister of State for External Affairs & Parliamentary Affairs, V Muraleedharan, said he spoke to Himachal Pradesh CM on Malayalam film crew stuck in Chatru. “Mandi district administration is in touch with stranded crew members. Evacuation efforts are on to bring them back to Manali today,” he said.

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