2 dead in Nainital as heavy rains lash state

Dehradun, July 6

Heavy overnight rains lashed a number of places across Uttarakhand, leaving two persons dead in Nainital. The administration has issued an alert for people living near lakes and rivers.

Schools in most districts, including Nainital, Dehradun and Haridwar, remained closed in view of the Met department warning of heavy rains.

Official sources said one person died as a tree uprooted by heavy rain fell over him in Nainital whereas another drowned while attempting to cross a river near Ramnagar in the district.

Traffic along the Mall Road–Birla school route in Nainital was badly affected with heavy rain causing a landslide from which mud and slush flowed down to the Mall hitting more than 10 houses on the way.

However, no injury to anyone was reported with the debris from the landslide.

As a precautionary measure, an alert was issued for the people living near rivers and streams in Nainital district where heavy rains could send them into spate.

There were reports of trees falling down and interrupting transportation from different places in and around the city.

Control rooms were put on alert and leave of government officials in the district have been cancelled with immediate effect till tomorrow, sources said. Electricity and water supply has also been hit due to rains in different parts of the Kumaon region, including Nainital. While Nainital received the maximum 120 mm of rain, Haldwani was a close second with 110 mm of rain followed by Dehradun (83.7 mm), Roorkee (79mm), Mussoorie (60mm) and Pithoragarh 51.6 mm. — PTI