High alert as heavy rains batter Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand was on high alert Monday following meteorological predictions of heavy to very heavy rains over three days on top of the downpour that has crippled life in Dehradun.

A large section of the main peripheral wall of an 8th century 'math', founded by Adi Shankra, was Monday washed away by the raging waters of the Alaknanda river.

Officials said the 'math', one of the 360 founded by the Shankracharya, was under immense threat of devastation. They said many precious stones as well as shilaas had been washed away.

Officials said that district administrations at many places had been put on high alert as many rivers were in spate. Unending rains since Sunday night have worsened the situation.

Heavy rains lashed Haridwar, Dehradun, Mussourie, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag and most hill districts, said an official.

Due to the rains, all rehabilitation work in the rain and flood affected areas of June have halted, officials said.

People on river banks in many districts, including Haridwar, have been asked to move to safer places.

Vikasnagar and Chamoli also experienced heavy rains. An official said the rains would get intense in the next three days. The Bhagirathi is flowing dangerously close to the danger mark.

The met department has predicted 90 to 100 mm of rains in Dehradun. The city got 82 mm rains in the last 24 hours. Uttarkashi has received 81.6 mm of rains.

Owing to the downpour, water level in the Ganga has risen dangerously in Rishikesh, Dev Prayag and Haridwar.

Ganga in Haridwar is flowing at 292.7 metres, 338.96 metres in Rishikesh and 458.45 metres in Dev Prayag.

In a related development, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna presided over a cabinet meeting to map out efforts to reach out to people in far flung areas and expedite rehabilitation work.

The state has drawn a Rs.8,000 crore package to rehabilitate people and reconstruct hundreds of villages ravaged in June.

More than 1,500 people were killed and over 5,000 are still missing in June's 'Himalayan tsunami'.