Heavy rain triggers landslides in Uttarakhand; teen dies, 118 roads blocked

Dehradun, Jul 10 (PTI) A teenager died, several people were injured, and schools were closed on Friday as heavy rain battered Uttarakhand over the past 24 hours, triggering landslides and blocking 118 roads across the state, including the Yamunotri National Highway. Officials said that they have stepped up vigilance following the Meteorological Department's forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall. The Dehradun Meteorological Centre issued an 'orange' alert on Friday, anticipating heavy to very heavy rainfall in seven districts, including Dehradun, prompting the officials to announce the closure of schools up to Class 12 in several districts, including Dehradun. According to the Meteorological Centre, heavy rainfall was recorded in most parts of the state over the last 24 hours. The highest rainfall was recorded in Bhagwanpur (232 mm), followed by Roorkee (190 mm), Kirtinagar (140 mm), Laksar (114 mm), Kaladhungi (82 mm), Purola (80 mm), Mussoorie (74.1 mm), Tyuni (73 mm), Barkot (72 mm), Chakrata (69.3 mm), Roshanabad (68 mm), Kuthnaur and Chinyalisaur (67 mm each), and Jakholi (50 mm). Moderate rainfall occurred in other areas as well. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), a teenager drowned in a rain-fed river in the Bhagwanpur area of the ​​Haridwar district. The body of Shahid (18) was recovered early Friday morning during a search operation conducted by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the police. In another incident, two pedestrians sustained minor injuries when a massive tree fell near the New Pavilion Hotel in Nainital. They have been admitted to a hospital for treatment. The rainfall also triggered landslides in several hilly areas, leading to the closure of approximately 118 roads across the state. Efforts to reopen these routes are underway, officials said. They also said that a 100-meter stretch of the Yamunotri National Highway near Syanachatti in Uttarkashi district was damaged by a landslide, adding that repair work is in progress. The Gangotri National Highway faced frequent disruptions due to falling boulders and stones at Nagun and Nalu Pani. Continuous rainfall also caused Ganga, Yamuna, and their tributaries—along with several smaller rivers—to swell. Citing the Central Water Commission, the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) reported rising water levels in the Bhagirathi (at Uttarkashi and Devprayag), Pindar (at Nandkesari), Kali (at Dharchula), and Gori (at Jauljibi) rivers. Although water levels remain below the warning mark, the rivers are being constantly monitored, SEOC said. The Dehradun Meteorological Centre has issued an 'Orange Alert' for heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated areas across the districts of Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri, Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital, and Champawat. Heavy rainfall is also anticipated in some areas of other districts. In view of the weather conditions, the SEOC has directed all district magistrates to maintain special vigilance in vulnerable areas, keep relief and rescue teams on alert, ensure better coordination among disaster management departments, continuously monitor road conditions, and ensure immediate action during emergencies. In light of the rainfall warning, schools up to Class 12 have been closed in the districts of Dehradun, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri, Bageshwar, Nainital, Champawat, and Pauri. PTI DPT KSI KSI