Torrential rains trigger landslides and flooding in Uttarakhand, danger looms as river level rises

The northern Indian state of Uttarakhand has been grappling with torrential rains, leading to landslides, roadblocks, and a surge in river levels. The Ganga River crossed the danger mark in Devprayag and reached the warning level in Haridwar. Additionally, heavy rains caused the release of water from the Alaknanda River dam, exacerbating the situation. The rising water levels of the Ganga have resulted in the inundation of various areas, including Sangam Ghat, Ramkund, Dhaneshwar Ghat, and Fuladi Ghat, according to Uttarakhand state officials.

The situation in Uttarakhand has worsened over the past few days due to continuous heavy showers. As many as 71 areas, including Laksar, Khanpur, Roorkee, Bhagwanpur, and Haridwar tehsil, are experiencing a flood-like situation. Landslides triggered by the incessant rain have blocked several roads, causing further difficulties for the affected regions.

The Ganga River surpassed the danger mark in Devprayag and breached the warning level in Haridwar due to the significant water release from the Alaknanda River dam. The water level of the Ganga continued to rise after the authorities released 2,000-3,000 cusecs of water from the GVK hydroelectric project dam on the Alaknanda River.

Brijesh Bhatt, Tehri’s disaster management officer, urged people to stay away from the river banks and emphasized the district administration’s efforts to issue frequent warnings. The water level of the Ganga in the Muni ki Reti area near Rishikesh also rose above the warning level, reaching 338.60 meters.

In Haridwar, the Ganga crossed the warning level of 293 meters on Sunday evening, prompting officials to issue an alert for low-lying areas susceptible to flooding. The excessive water flow from the Girthi Ganga River at Niti Ghati caused damage to the bridge on the Joshimath-Malari road in the Chamoli district, which was primarily used by the Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. Moreover, the Kali River in Dharchula area of Pithoragarh district has also crossed the warning mark.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted “heavy to very heavy” rainfall in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh over the next five days. In response, the Dehradun Meteorological Centre has issued an ‘orange’ alert, indicating the likelihood of heavy rain, across all 13 districts of Uttarakhand on Monday. Several areas in Uttarakhand experienced rainfall on Sunday, triggering landslides that resulted in roadblocks, including the Badrinath national highway.

An ‘orange’ alert signifies extremely adverse weather conditions that may disrupt commuting, leading to road closures, drainage issues, and power interruptions. The State Disaster Operation Centres have instructed Haridwar District Magistrate Dheeraj Singh to expedite the repair of gate number 10 of the Bhimgoda barrage to prevent significant losses caused by the high-speed water flow. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indian Army, and Uttarakhand Police are actively engaged in rescue operations throughout the state.

Thus far, the heavy rains in Uttarakhand have claimed the lives of five individuals and caused significant damage to multiple houses. In Haridwar alone, 17 roads and nine bridges have been severely affected by the adverse weather conditions.