Natural Disasters

After forest fires, Uttarakhand is now hit by cloudburst; Kumaon region badly affected

Apart from the cloudbursts, there have been heavy rains in several districts of Uttarakhand

 
By DTE Staff
Published: Saturday 02 June 2018

Most of the districts in Kumaon region are experiencing torrential rains along with landslides. Credit: Wikimedia CommonsAfter enduring a long spell of forest fires, Uttarkhand is now experiencing torrential rains with cloudbursts being reported from places Uttarkashi, Pauri, Tehri and Balakot. The cloudburst triggered flash floods in Pithoragarh and Betalghat, reportedly damaging dozen shops and houses.

Three children were swept away by flood waters after heavy rains in Uttarkashi's Gangtadi. Another cloudburst occurred at Bamorth village in Pauri district, which destroyed six cowsheds.

The cloudburst occurred at the top of a hillock in Bamorth village in Thalisain block of Pauri district.

Several hectares of crops have been destroyed due to cloudburst and heavy rain in Ghansali area of Tehri, according to media reports.

Apart from the cloudbursts, there have been heavy rains in several districts. Rains in Pithoragarh district have wreaked havoc on the Indo-Nepal border in the Kali and Gori river basins.

In fact, most of the districts in Kumaon region are experiencing torrential rains along with landslides. 

IMD’s latest release says nothing about the intensity of the cloudburst except mentioning that rain and thundershowers were observed at isolated places over Uttarakhand. However, 

According to rainfall data of IMD, Pithoragrah district received 11mm of rain on Friday, which is 173 per cent higher than the normal of 4.4mm. Nainital received 5.6mm of rain as opposed to a normal of 4.2 . The neighbouring district of Champawat saw 10 mm of rainfall, which was 233 per cent higher than normal.  

Three districts of Uttarakhand saw large excess rainfall yesterday and one district received excess rainfall.

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