Floods and landslides caused by heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand have killed 64 people in the last few days, ANI reported on Thursday. A total of 19 people are injured and 11 have been missing from various districts.
According to the Natural Disaster Incident report, one person was reported dead on Sunday, eight people died on Monday, and 45 died on Tuesday, according to ANI. Twenty eight of the 64 deaths occurred in Nainital district.
The state government said that property worth Rs 7,000 crore was damaged in the rain, PTI reported.
Amit Shah conducts aerial survey
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (retired) conducted an aerial survey of the rain-affected areas, ANI reported.
“I held a high-level review meeting with officials of the State and Centre over the natural calamity in Uttarakhand,” Shah said after the aerial survey. “Due to timely rainfall alerts, the extent of damage could be controlled.”
Shah added that 3,500 people were rescued from the rain and 16,000 others were taken to safety as a precaution.
“Seventeen National Disaster Response Force teams, seven State Disaster Response Force trams, 15 companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary and more than 5,000 police personnel were deployed for rescue operation,” he said.
The home minister said that the power will be restored in all areas soon.
As the weather cleared slightly on Thursday, the police opened the Badrinath Dham pilgrimage route for small and light vehicles, ANI reported.
“Chardham Yatra has resumed with the opening of route for small/light vehicles to Badrinath Dham,” said Uttarakhand Director General of Police Ashok Kumar. “Route to Ramgarh and Mukteshwar from Nainital is also operational now.”
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