Haridwar Flood: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday declared as “disaster-prone” all those areas of Haridwar district which are inundated or inundated due to heavy rains. The chief minister also deferred payment of electricity and water bills and other government dues and loans for the next three months.
CM Dhami made this announcement after reviewing the waterlogging and flood situation in Haridwar.
‘Distribution of relief amount will be ensured immediately’
The Chief Minister said that distribution of relief amount would be ensured immediately by conducting a comprehensive survey of the disaster affected areas.
A flood management plan will be worked out to prevent recurrence of this type of disaster in future. In which work is being done by preparing a comprehensive plan for drainage and construction of small culverts as per requirement.
‘Permanent flood relief centers will be built’
Dhami also called for taking steps to channelize the rivers to reduce the risk of floods in future. The Chief Minister also announced setting up of permanent flood relief centers in the disaster affected areas.
Earlier in a meeting with officials, the CM directed them to ensure that facilities including drinking water, health care, communication and electricity run normally in the flood-hit areas.
In Haridwar district, 71 villages in Roorkee, Laksar, Bhagwanpur and Haridwar tehsils were inundated as a result of torrential rains, forcing many families to leave their homes. 81 families will be shifted to temporary relief centres.
National Highway blocked due to landslide
Landslides triggered by heavy rain blocked several places, including the Badrinath and Yamunotri National Highways. The Badrinath National Highway in Chamoli district was blocked at five places between Nandprayag and Badrinath due to landslide debris.
According to the information received from the State Emergency Operation Center, the Karnprayag-Gairsain National Highway has also been closed for traffic due to the road being washed away at Kalimati near Gairsain. The Rishikesh-Yamunotri National Highway is closed due to debris near Dharasu Band in Uttarkashi district.
Four residential buildings were damaged and about two hectares of agricultural land was submerged in a cloudburst in Rauli village of Thalisain area of Pauri district on Thursday night. In the same incident, a person’s cowshed was washed away and all the animals kept in it died.
IMD has predicted heavy to very heavy rain
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday predicted heavy to very heavy rain with thunderstorm and lightning at isolated places in Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Tehri, Pauri and Nainital in the next 24 hours.
(with inputs from agencies)