DEHRADUN: Incessant rains and cloudbursts continue to wreak havoc in the state. Two persons were killed and 30 houses damaged by debris in the last 24 hours in cloudburst incidents amid heavy rains in the border district of Pithoragarh. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, after conducting an aerial survey of the disaster-hit area, met the affected people amid rescue operations being carried out on a war footing by the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) and police force.
Heavy loss of life and property was also reported from the border districts of Nepal's Darchula district.
There has been huge devastation after the cloudburst on the Indo-Nepal border. In Pithoragarh district, 36 houses have been heavily damaged due to debris and water. A woman died after being buried under the debris inside the house. The SDRF has rescued around 175 people at Dharchula stadium.
The Chief Minister reached the spot and took stock of the situation. Apart from the devastation in Pithoragarh, five people were killed and 30 houses destroyed in a cloudburst in Nepal's Darchula area.
According to the information received, Pashupati Devi (65), wife of Man Bahadur, a resident of Khotila in Dharchula, got stuck inside the house after an unsuccessful attempt to unlock the door latch after this cloudburst incident. She drowned as the house was flooded. The rescue team pulled out her body after
a lot of effort.
SDRF Commandant Manikant Mishra told TNIE, "We have received reports of a huge amount of water entering various premises and roads being damaged in many areas. SDRF and police forces are engaged in relief and rescue work".
Last night's flood in kali river in Dharchula caused a lot of damage to Dharchula and its surrounding areas.
A building collapsed and was submerged in water due to a strong current in the river. Many houses have been washed away and some houses have been badly affected due to the floods.
Sub Divisional Magistrate Nandan Kumar told TNIE, "A total of 20 houses and 15 shops in Malli Bazar and Khari Gali and 36 houses in Khotila have been covered with debris, water. Tents and other essential food items are being provided to the disaster-affected people on a priority basis".
According to the official sources in Pithoragarh, the Lasku drain, which was in spate due to a cloudburst in Dal Lekh, a high-altitude area of Darchula, Nepal, has caused huge devastation. Five people died and 11 are missing in Navgarh village and Mahakali municipality, while over 30 houses collapsed as water
entered the Kali river. Here, due to the heavy amount of water and debris in Indian territory, 36 houses in Khatila of Dharchula have been filled with debris and water.
Congress MLA Harish Dhami shared information about the damage caused in the disaster with CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and appealed to provide full help to the disaster affected. He told the chief minister that hundreds of people have been affected by the disaster in his assembly.
District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan has deployed Dharchula SDM Nandan Kumar as well as Didihat SDM Anurag Arya and Bageshwar SDM Anil Kumar Shukla in the affected areas. Relief and rescue work is being carried out at a rapid pace under the supervision of the three SDMs.a