New Delhi: Uttarakhand is grappling with one of the worst natural disasters the state has faced in recent years. All the major pilgrimages in the state have been hit by either landslides or flash floods whether it is Rudraprayag, Dev Prayag, Kedarnath or Badrinath. Even the Shashastra Seema Bal Academy building in Pauri district has been destroyed.
The raging Alanknanda River destroyed SSB office which was constructed just two months ago at a cost of Rs 4 crore. Alanknand river not only destroyed the Badri stadium of the SSB but also the barracks of the recruits. Even the Officers' quarters and dining hall have been washed away. The new training hall and trainees' hostel have become an island with officials estimating the loss to SSB to be about Rs 100 crore.
It's the same scene in Yamunotri where roads have been washed away and landslides have made rescue efforts very tough. Dev Prayag too has faced the full fury of nature and now there are no roads in the region. Several vehicles have been washed away and are seen floating the river.
After bridges and road were destroyed, the rescue teams are bringing down people one by one from Govind ghat. Approximately 600 people have taken refuge in an ITBP camp at Joshimath. The ITBP is trying to construct a bridge to take people to Rishikesh.
According to the government estimates, 4,000 people have been rescued by ITBP and NDRF teams while the army rescued 5,000. The government estimates that still over 60,000 people could be trapped. Food and water packets are being dropped to trapped people by helicopters. Army and other security forces have sent several teams to the affected areas to rescue the trapped people.
But still there are many areas where it is almost impossible to reach. More than 400 roads are washed away in the flood while communication systems are also cut off. The rescue teams are hoping for the weather to improve before speeding up the rescue operations.
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