Uttarakhand cloudburts: Rescue operations wound up at most places

DEHRADUN: The rescue operations launched in the wake of heavy rains and cloudbursts in hilly state of Uttarakhand were wound up today in most places except in Bastadi in Pithoragarh district which bore the maximum brunt with highest number of casualties at 17.

Rescue operations have been completed everywhere except in Bastadi which was the worst hit, Additional Secretary, Disaster Management, C Ravishankar said.

Eight persons are said to be still missing in Bastadi, he added.

Rescue teams helped by two JCB machines and dog squads are now conducting operations towards Chandrabhaga river flowing underneath Bastadi village.

A series of cloudbursts and torrential rains on July 1 claimed 20 lives in Pithoragarh and Chamoli districts. Around a dozen persons are still missing from both districts.

17 bodies were pulled out from the debris in the villages of Pithoragarh district whereas three were recovered from Chamoli.

Bastadi, Nauleda, Rigolia, Nachni and Charma are the villages affected by cloudbursts in Pithoragarh whereas Jakhni, Waduk, Gauli and Sirji villages were affected by the flashfloods triggered by torrential rains in Chamoli.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Harish Rawat toured the Ghaat area of Chamoli district which was the worst-hit by the flashloods and met the affected families.

He conveyed his condolences to them and assured them of all possible help.

Rawat also asked the district administration to solve the problems faced by the affected families on a priority basis.

Relief funds must reach the affected families soon and they should be evacuated to safe locations, he said.

The Disaster Control Room should monitor the situation on a daily basis and send a report to the administration, he added.