DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand is grappling with an unprecedented monsoon onslaught that has claimed over 263 lives and deluged the Himalayan state with 70 percent more rainfall than normal this year. The relentless downpour, far exceeding average monthly figures, has triggered widespread devastation, with Bageshwar and Dehradun emerging as the worst-affected districts.
On Tuesday, the state experienced particularly extreme rainfall. Sahastradhara recorded a staggering 264.0 mm in the 24 hours leading up to 8:30 am, dramatically surpassing its previous all-time record of 212.6 mm set on September 3, 1924. "The intensity of rainfall in such a short period is truly exceptional and a cause for serious concern," stated a senior Met Department official. Maldevta also experienced a significant downpour, registering 149.0 mm, while Dehradun district received 66.7 mm of rain that day – an astonishing 1136% higher than normal levels.
Further highlighting the severity, the state capital, Dehradun, has recorded a staggering 446.5 mm of rainfall since September 1 – a colossal 160 percent above its normal average for the period. This figure dangerously nears the total rainfall recorded in September 2019 (489.9 mm), which was the highest in the past decade.
The human toll paints a grim picture. As of Saturday, the death count surpassed 263, with Nainital and Tehri Garhwal each reporting 47 fatalities, closely followed by Pithoragarh with 40. These figures underscore the widespread impact across the mountainous terrain.
Over the past eight years, Uttarakhand has grappled with a staggering 26,709 disaster incidents, resulting in a tragic total of 3,609 lives lost, according to data from the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA). While 2018 recorded the highest number of such events (exceeding 5,000) and was the deadliest year (claiming 720 lives), the current year has already seen approximately 2,105 disaster events reported as of Saturday, with August alone witnessing a peak of 951 incidents.
"These figures underscore the increasing vulnerability of our state to various natural hazards," stated a senior USDMA official. "The consistent rise in event frequency, especially in peak monsoon months, demands continuous preparedness and adaptive strategies to protect our communities."
A disaster management expert involved in relief efforts remarked, "While our response mechanisms are crucial, the ultimate goal must be to minimize loss of life through robust early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, and comprehensive community training to face these recurring challenges."
