Uttarakhand Rains: Death Toll rises to 46, Fuel only for emergency, Ranikhet & Almora Cut - Off from plains
Updates on the Uttarakhand Rains: At least 46 persons have perished in rain-related accidents across the state, with Chief Minister PS Dhami announcing a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for their families.
Uttarakhand Rains: The weather service has predicted that circumstances will improve starting this evening.
For the second day in a row, Uttarakhand's Ranikhet and Almora have been cut off from the plains, with the former having to ration fuel for emergency services. Landslides in the Khairna and Garampani districts have blocked highways.
In Ranikhet (about 320 miles from Dehradun), there is little or no fuel; what is left has been set aside for emergency services. After 24 hours, low-voltage electricity was restored, and fiber optic cables (which provide telephone and internet services) were cut in various locations.
Seven individuals perished in Almora (about 345 km from Dehradun), according to news agency ANI.
The NDRF has released images that show huge stretches of what were formerly paved roads covered in mud and rubble, with just the metal barrier indicating that there is a road beneath the debris.
Other photos show stranded tourists being led out of the area by rescue services as they scramble over stones and through the muck.
Access to Nainital, like Ranikhet and Almora, was shut off yesterday due to landslides blocking roads. The lake overflowed and flooded the Mall Road due to nearly 500 mm of rain in 24 hours.
Officials informed PTI that connectivity to Nainital was restored late last night after hours of battle, but that electricity, phones, and internet services remained spotty.
The NDRF has begun to rescue stranded visitors; images from this morning showed men, women, and children being evacuated. On a hillside, the tourists were observed wandering with their stuff.
