The monsoon showers throw the hillsides into chaos, leading to a burgeoning flood hazard in UP and Bihar. As river levels rise, stretches along the Ganges watch their fields and dwellings succumb to the waters. Images surface from Bijnor, Moradabad, and Muzaffarnagar portraying the grim reality. Regions in Bihar like Bagaha and Naugachia are becoming drowned landscapes. From Uttarakhand to Nepal, the extraordinary weather continues unabated. In light of the flooding, UP’s Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has sent out orders. Over in Shravasti district of UP, a rescue mission is in effect for 12 women and children found working in the fields. Meanwhile, the Chamoli Badrinath National Highway stands fully closed down, with half of it claimed by incessant rains and landslides, leaving a trail of vehicles waiting for a clear path.
Uttarakhand Braces for Heavy Rains
Delving into Uttarakhand, numerous regions forecast severe rainfall. Roads like the Dhanaulti-Mussoorie route at Kafalani have shut down due to non-stop downpour. Red alerts resonate throughout districts like Chamoli, Pauri, and Rudraprayag. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered heightened alert status for all district magistrates as more than 200 routes have closed. Around 221 JCB machines stand deployed and teams from NDRF to SDRF remain on the ready. Relief operations are targeting those by the canals. Heavy rains recently made their mark with a nighttime deluge across Pithoragarh, Nainital, Chamoli, Almora, and Pauri.
Chardham Pilgrimage on Pause Amidst Rains
The forecast of substantial rainfall on the 7th and 8th of July in Uttarakhand's Garhwal region led to a temporary suspension of the Chardham Yatra. Vinay Shankar Pandey, the Commissioner of Garhwal, has underlined that pilgrim safety is the cornerstone of their decision. Those mid-journey are advised to hold off for clearer skies ahead. Rain-induced landslides have fractured the landscape of Uttarakhand, with Badrinath routes blockaded. Two pilgrims hailing from Hyderabad became the unwitting victims of such a landslide near Karnaprayag on their return from Badrinath by motorcycle. The rivers in the state are swelled to near-danger levels, with Alaknanda river approaching peril at Vishnuprayag near JoshiMath.
Source: aajtak
