High alert in Haridwar as Ganga crosses danger mark
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service
Haridwar, July 11
With incessant rains lashing the upper and lower reaches of Garhwal division for the past two days, a high alert has been sounded in the low-lying areas of the division, including Haridwar, Roorkee and Laksar, as a flood-like situation is already developing.
The Haridwar district administration has issued a high alert in the Haridwar-Lakshar-Roorkee river belt and catchment areas. Lower parts of a majority of Ganga ghats were submerged this evening. Haridwar District Magistrate Harish Chand Semwal is monitoring the situation as the water level in the Ganga has crossed the danger mark of 294 m.
The Central Water Commission Hydrology observatory at Neel Dhara stated that at 5:30 pm, the Ganga water level was above the danger mark at 294.40 metre.
As a result, the river embankment areas faced a flood threat and the administration shifted several families to safer places.
District Nodal Disaster Management Officer Meera Kaintura said the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force had been mobilised and the special Jal Police wing of the Uttarakhand Police had also been alerted.
As rains continue in the upper Garhwal division, the water level in the rivers will be monitored throughout the night. Rescue motor boats, a team of doctors and ambulances had been deputed at flood-prone villages, he added.
Major villages that have been severely affected due to heavy rain during the past few days are Gang Daspur, Bada Gang Daspur, Sherpur Bela, Maharaj Pur Khurd, Maharaj Pur Kalan, Sonparri, Nand Pur, Pandit Pur, Sherpur and Bahadrabad.
