Toll from rain-related incidents has reached 50 in Uttarakhand: Officials

A flash flood swept through Ramgarh in the Nainital district, where the popular lake town was also inundated and cut off from the rest of the state on Tuesday

The toll from rain-related incidents has reached 50 in Uttarakhand, officials said on Wednesday, a day after a flash flood swept through Ramgarh in the Nainital district, where the popular lake town was also inundated and cut off from the rest of the state.

NDRF team carrying out rescue operations at several waterlogged areas due to continuous rainfall, in Rudrapur on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)

An unusual western disturbance – a rain system that originates in the Mediterranean region – swept across the northern plans and slammed into the Himalayan ranges, triggering extremely heavy rain spells.

Officials said 30 people have died in the Nainital district, six in Almora, two in Champawat, two in US Nagar, and one in Bageshwar district since Tuesday. The rest of the deaths were reported on October 17 and 18 in the state. Nine houses have also been damaged across the state due to heavy rains.

On Wednesday, four bodies were recovered from Ramgarh and two from Kainchi Dham area in Nainital. Around 500 people stranded on the Kainchi-Bhwali were also rescued.

State Disaster Response Force personnel on Tuesday carried out rescue operations in waterlogged areas of Rudrapur in US Nagar, using rafts at some places.

Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted aerial surveys of affected areas in Kumaon. He took stock of the emerging situation and spoke to officials.

On Tuesday, Dhami told local media that 34 people have been killed in rain-related incidents in the state. He announced ₹4 lakh compensation each to the kin of those killed.