Three individuals, including a seven-year-old child, have lost their lives in flood-related incidents caused by heavy rains in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar district. Satpal, aged 47, from Habibpur Kundi village of Laksar, and Ajay Kumar, aged 27, from Basedi Khadar, drowned after being swept away by floodwaters. In Roorkee, a seven-year-old girl named Aliusa tragically died when a wall collapsed on her due to heavy rains in the area.
The State Disaster Management Department (SDMD) has reported that heavy rainfall throughout the state over the past few days has led to waterlogging in many areas, particularly in Haridwar. In response, the State Disaster Management Authority has prepared a flood map using satellite data to assist the Haridwar district administration in planning and implementing timely relief and rescue operations.
According to the flood map, 511 villages in Haridwar have been affected by waterlogging. The district administration has been instructed to prioritize relief work in these villages. The State Emergency Operation Center has been working tirelessly to shift people from affected villages in Laksar, Bhagwanpur, Haridwar, and Roorkee to safer locations. They are also distributing food packets, drinking water, and relief kits to those in need.
To support the relief efforts, teams from the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Police, and Army have been deployed in sensitive areas of Haridwar that have been impacted by the floods. The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, recently visited the flood-affected areas in Haridwar and directed officials to provide immediate assistance to those affected by the calamity.
Additionally, several roads in the state have been closed due to landslides, including the Rishikesh-Kedarnath National Highway near Khakra and Naogaon. Efforts are underway to clear the routes and restore normal traffic flow. In Pithoragarh district, the wall of a suspension bridge connecting India to Nepal was damaged, leading to its temporary closure for safety reasons.
Air Marshal Ravi Gopal Krishna Kapoor, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command, met with Chief Minister Dhami and expressed concern over the load capacity of new bridges being constructed in the state. He recommended a minimum load capacity of 24 tonnes for the new bridges, enabling heavy vehicles from the Indian Air Force and the Army to pass through easily.
As the situation in Uttarakhand remains challenging due to continuous rainfall and consequential flooding, it is vital for the government authorities, relief agencies, and local communities to work together to provide immediate support to those affected and ensure their safety.
