Uttarakhand cloudburst: At least 30 killed, NDRF teams deployed as rescue ops underway

Dehradun: Flash floods triggered by a huge cloudburst left at least 30 people dead and scores of others missing in Uttarakhand on Friday, prompting the state government and the Centre to mobilise relief measures on war footing.

According to media reports, the Pithoragarh and Chamoli districts of the state were the worst affected.

Vast tracts of agriculture fields have been inundated while three bridges linking the Suva village in Dharchula area have been washed away.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said teams from the NDRF were rushed to the affected areas and additional teams were kept on standby.

Over 54 mm rain was recorded in the affected areas in the past 24-hours.

The Thal-Munsyari road has been cut-off and dozens of vehicles remained stranded on both sides. The Yamunotri highway, near Kharadi, has also been damaged leading to traffic being halted.

Entry of heavy vehicles was halted on the Kedarnath highway after a landslide at Gangolgaon. All major rivers in the state were flowing above the danger mark.

The MeT Department has forecast heavy rain in Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar, Champawat, Almora, Pauri, Haridwar, Dehradun and Tehri districts in the next 72 hours.

Director of the state Met. Department Vikram Singh said that a low pressure belt between the Bay of Bengal and Punjab is causing the rains.

Meabnwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the loss of lives caused by the cloudburst.

"I am grieved by the loss of lives caused due to cloudburst and heavy rain in parts of Uttarakhand. Condolences to bereaved families.

"My prayers are with those injured. I hope normalcy returns to the rain-affected areas at the earliest," the Prime Minister said.

Chief Minister Harish Rawat has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to families of the victims.

Rawat said that he was personally monitoring the situation and added that disaster management teams and security personnel have already been asked to reach the sites to carry out rescue works and ensure safety of locals.

"We are sad to know about the deaths. I am personally monitoring the situation from here. Chief Secretary too is keeping a tab ... We will give them (kin of victims) immediate compensation of Rs two lakh as per norms," he said.