Rain in Uttarakhand; more expected

Some areas in Uttarakhand received moderate rainfall today, thus bringing some respite to the hill state from sweltering heat and a long dry spell.       

Pithoragarh and some areas in Kumaon region received moderate rainfall and more is expected in the next 24 hours.      

"There is a break from the dry spell at least in some areas of Kumaon region," Met Director Anand Sharma said here.       

Though the water discharge in Ganga and its major tributaries continues to fall, Sharma said the Garhwal region, from where major rivers like Ganga and Yamuna originate, may soon get some rainfall.       

The long dry spell in Uttarakhand had triggered an acute drinking water and irrigation crisis which was further compounded by delayed monsoon.       

Drought-like conditions were seen in vast areas of Terai and Haridwar.       

The discharge in major rivers like Ganga, Yamuna and Sharda had fallen by 50 to 75 per cent in the state, hampering the power generation capacity, officials today said.       

The power generation, after touching 18 million units in the first week of June, dipped to 13 million units, they said.      

Recently, forest fires claimed 14 lives in the state, triggered by intense heat and human errors.