Cloud bursts and landslides in Chamoli district of Garhwal Uttarakhand

About six persons have been reportedly killed in a cloud burst incident that occurred in Lankhi village in Chamoli district.

This has resulted in an excessive overflow and flood in Chufalgaadh river further leading to colossal loss to properties. In view of the excessive over flooding of Chufalgarh river the roads in the market area caved in. This has resulted in the destruction of houses and shops.

If the same nature of heavy rain continues in Karnprayag, the situation may go out of hand leading to several fatalities and loss of properties. Similarly in the Baaj Bagagad and Aalitok areas of Garhwal hills in Chamoli district heavy rains resulted in a landslide. Heavy rubbles fell on a house killing three persons which included a mother and a daughter.

According to the information flowing in from Disaster Management Control Room senior journalist, Harish Maikhuri informed that in Baaj Bagad the house of one Abbal Singh was completely submerged in a landslide. This has led to the death of his 35-year-old wife and the 9-month-old infant. The ill-fated mother and daughter died due to asphyxiation inside the heavy rubble of the landslide. The tragic incident of cloud burst in Faldi village of Tharali is still fresh in peoples’ mind.

Similarly, in Aali village, Nanu Ram’s house was compressed under the rubble of heavy landslide resulting in the brutal death of his 21-year-old daughter Naurti. The total toll due to this natural disaster has reached six by now. The rescue team of the disaster management force and the local police which reached the spots of this brutal incident have retrieved the dead bodies. According to senior journalist Harish Maikhuri so far about six persons, fifty goats, two cows have died due to this cloud burst incident in Chamoli district. The meteorological department had already given clear indications about heavy rains in Chamoli, Pauri, Tehri, Nainital, Rudraprayag and Pithoragarh districts.

Heavy rains during monsoons create havoc in Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of Uttarakhand and cause heavy losses to life and property. The chief minister of Uttarakhand Trivendra Singh Rawat has expressed concern over these cloud burst incidents and has also condoled the deaths in this natural calamity. He has tweeted: I am deeply pained to learn about the loss of lives in cloud burst incidents in Chamoli’s ghat area. My condolences towards the bereaved families of the deceased’s. I have issued urgent directives to the district administration to provide maximum possible help of all kind including the financial support to the bereaved families including expeditious action to safeguard the lives of the people.

It’s a curse of nature that Uttarakhand faces these cloud burst incidents and natural disasters.