Ganga close to danger mark, Haridwar on flood alert due to incessant rain

Incessant rain for the past 48 hours, leading to rising water level of Ganga river, has triggered flood alert in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar district.

The Ganga was flowing close to the danger mark of 294 metre, officials said, adding that the water level was being monitored round the clock at the Central Water Commission’s site at Neeldhara.

District magistrate Deepak Rawat said, “We have written to the Tehri Hydro Development Authority to not release additional water as it can lead to major damage to riverbed residential habitats.”

Catchment areas of the Ganga, particularly the plain region of Pathri, Lakshar, Khanpur and Mangalore, have been affected by rising water level. District disaster management personnel are providing inputs about the Ganga, its tributaries, rivulets, landslides, and blocking of roads. State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel have been deployed at highly flood-prone areas.

Water gushed into slum clusters at Chandighat, Kandi Shyampur, Katarpur, Chaundpur, Pathri, Ambuwala, Bishanpur Kundi, Ranimajra, Badshapur, Buwapur, Chamrawal, Purani Kundi, Tanda Bhagmal, Bhogpur, Laldhang, Gaindikhata, and Kotawali, officials said.

At Shri Panchayati Naya Udasin Akhada at Kankhal, a rooftop and a portion of a wall of an abandoned room caved in due to heavy rain on Saturday evening. The city faced traffic congestion owing to water logging at the busiest intersections – Chandracharya square and Bhagat Singh square -- the gateway to Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and the SIIDCUL industrial estate. Many vehicles got stuck in water at the intersections; traffic was diverted from railway crossing-old Ranipur intersection, bypass and Shankar Ashram stretch, officials said.

A portion of the road leading to the stairs of Mata Mansa Devi shrine showed up cracks due to heavy rain. Mudslide was reported near Kangda temple ghat area from the mountain terrain, which spread to nearby shops and roads, causing inconvenience to residents and pilgrims.

Near Har-Ki-Pauri, fall of boulders from the Shivalik mountain terrain was reported for the past two days. Three shops were damaged by boulders last week, prompting the administration to remove other shops and vendors from the Har-Ki-Pauri-Bhimgoda stretch. “This sensitive site has been barricaded; when slides occur, police personnel stop the passersby by putting up barricades,” police post in-charge DS Rawat said.

Vishnu Ghat, Ram Ghat, Sabji mandi, and Moti bazaar stretch were swamped with silt for the past two days.

Residents of Rasulpur and Mithiberi villages are facing shortage of food items as the swelling Rawasan river has prevented them from reaching Laldhang market. “People are waiting for Rawasan water level to go down; children are also not going to school,” said Deepu Upreti, a villager.

Siddh Shroth, Kotawali, and Pili rivers have washed away land on many stretches. Executive engineer VV Yadav said, “Patching work is being done at East Ganga canal to stop land erosion; water level in Rawasan canal is being monitored.”

First Published: Aug 27, 2018 13:10 IST