Water level alarmingly high at Tehri, 63 die

New Delhi: With water levels in the Tehri dam crossing the danger mark, a potential disaster is feared in the hills of Uttarakhand. The region has been lashed by heavy rains, the worst in almost 40 years even as 63 people have died in cloudbursts and numerous landslides.

Chief Minister Pokhriyal has appealed to the Prime Minister to declare Uttarakhand a disaster affected state and has sought a package of Rs 5000 crore from the Centre for the relief work in the state. Rourkee, Almora and Ramnagar are the worst hit districts. ITBP jawans have begun relief and rescue operations there.

A National Disaster Relief Team is on its way to Hardwar, where many villages are under water. Many people have been evacuated from the low lying areas in Hardwar, Udham Singh Nagar. The Army is also being deployed for relief and rescue work. The Met dept says heavy rains will continue for next 48 hours.

With water levels in the Tehri dam crossing the danger mark, a potential disaster is feared.

Over a thousand people are stranded in Nainital as relentless rains have been creating havoc for past few days. The water levels of the rivers Yamuna, Kosi are on an alarming rise.

Meanwhile, the Yamuna continued to flow alarmingly high in Haryana on Monday, posing a threat of heavy flooding in villages along the river, officials said. Fresh alerts have been issued in major districts like Karnal, Panipat and Faridabad.

According to government officials, nearly 700,000 cusecs of water was discharged into the Yamuna from the Hathnikund barrage Sunday. It was the maximum release of water into the river this season.

Incessant rainfall in the upper reaches of Shivalik hills and in Uttarakhand has led to heavy inflows. Officials said flood water has also entered into the territory of a few villages in Karnal and Yamunanagar districts and rescue work was on.

The Haryana government has issued fresh flood alerts in Karnal, Panipat, Sonepat, Faridabad and Palwal districts and their deputy commissioners have been alerted to take preventive measures.

"We have told the residents of low lying areas to leave for safer locations. We will make sure that all necessary assistance will be provided to them. We are closely monitoring the situation. Several acres of agricultural land are facing the threat of heavy floods," Ashok Sanghwan, deputy commissioner of Yamunanagar, told IANS Monday.

"Besides, over 25 villages, including Kalesar, Baburambass, Mamdubas, Tappukamalpur, Punehri, Baghwali, Jathlana and Sandhala-Sandhali villages, are on the verge of flooding."

In Karnal district, flood threat was looming over Chougam, Hansu Majra, Garhi Birbal, Garhpur Tapu, Palsora, Halwana, Nabiyabad, Japti Chhapra, Sayed Chhapra, Nagli and Dera Sikkligarh villages.

The Haryana government has also alerted the Delhi flood authorities about the increased discharge in the river and told the army to remain on standby. Over 30 people were killed in floods in Haryana in July.

(With inputs from IANS)

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