Uttarakhand: Incessant Rains Wreak Havoc As At Least 34 Dead, Nainital Cut Off. PM Speaks To CM Dhami

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has asked people not to panic and assured them of all necessary steps to evacuate those stranded. 

ubmerged cars at a flooded hotel resort at the Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: At least 34 people have lost their lives so far due to the incessant rain in several parts of Uttarakhand. According to reports, thunderstorms, cloudbursts and landslides razed houses and damaged roads in various cities, especially the Kumaon region, razing houses to the ground and leaving many trapped in the debris.

The death toll was shared by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami who said that Rs 4 lakh compensation will be given to the families of the deceased and those who lost their houses will be given Rs 1.9 lakhs.

He also said that all possible help will be extended to those who lost their livestock.

It is being said that Nainital was cut off from the rest of the state with three roads leading to the popular tourist spot blocked due to a series of landslides.

"So far 24-25 dead due to incessant rains, maximum casualties from Nainital district," DGP Ashok Kumar told news agency ANI. 

He also informed that around 200 people who were stuck at Lemon Tree resort located at Ramnagar-Ranikhet route have been evacuated. 

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has asked people not to panic and assured them of all necessary steps to evacuate those stranded. 

Three Army Helicopters To Arrive For Rescue Ops

While speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Dhami said that three Army helicopters will soon arrive in the state to assist in relief and rescue operations, out of which, two are to be sent to Nainital district.

Nainital has reported heavy rains that have caused massive damages, with houses collapsing in cloudbursts, landslides killing people and leaving many trapped in the rubble.

One of these helicopters will assist in rescue operations in Garhwal region.

Details Of Fatalities

The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) stated that seven people were killed in the wee hours in two separate house collapse incidents following heavy rains at Totapani and Kvarav villages of Mukteshwar and Khairna areas of Nainital district, respectively.

Meanwhile, one person was swept away by heavy rain in Bajpur area of Udham Singh Nagar district.

Four people were trapped in the debris of a collapsed house at Rapad village in Bhetrojkhan area of Almora district out of which a woman was rescued safely, the SEOC said.

An unspecified number of people, all members of the same family, were also trapped in the rubble of a collapsed building in Bhikiyasain of the district, it said.

Four labourers, including three women, were trapped in the rubble of a landslide near Joshimath in Chamoli district. One woman labourer was injured in the incident while the rest of them are safe, the SEOC added.

PM Modi Speaks To CM Dhami

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to CM Dhami on the phone to take stock of the situation and assured him of all necessary help. Meanwhile, Dhami has also appealed to Chardham pilgrims to stay put where they are and not to resume their journey until the weather improves.  

According to a rough estimate, around 100 pilgrims from different parts of Gujarat, who went to Uttarakhand for the Chardham Yatra, were stranded following heavy rains and landslides there.