Rain has reduced now and in a span of 24 hours from 8.30 am on Sunday, Nainital received 5 mm of rain, Mukteshwar 27 mm, Tehri 13 mm, Champawat 59 mm, Pithoragarh 49 mm, Uttarkashi 13 mm, Mussourie 7 mm, Joshimath 9 mm and Pantnagar 2.2 mm of rain.
According to latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, this breather is only momentary as rain is likely to pick up once again in Uttarakhand from Tuesday evening.
Inclement weather in Uttarakhand
As Monsoon current travels, Uttarakhand is the first hilly state of North India to get affected. Monsoon never travels as a strong current to Jammu & Kashmir.
The average rain for the month of July in Uttarakhand is 428 mm in the state as a whole. Himachal Pradesh receives 307 mm and Jammu & Kashmir 192 mm.
From the 1st of June Uttarakhand has received 390 mm of rain till date. Uttarakhand is more vulnerable to rain owing to its terrain.
Torrential rains have stranded thousands of people in the hill state of Uttarakhand. This situation has evoked memories of last year’s cloudburst over the state, destroying property and claiming more than 5000 lives.
Rivers like Mandakini, Bhagirathi, Sharda and Alaknanda are flowing near the danger mark. People living close to the rivers have been asked to leave their houses and move to safer places.
Earlier the Char Dham Yatra was suspended till Saturday as heavy rains have caused landslides at several places along the yatra route. The national highway in the Kedar valley was inundated with water at some places. The Rishikesh-Badrinath national highway and the road connecting Kedarnath and Gaurikund was also blocked.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, told media on Saturday that resumption of the Char Dham Yatra was a calculated risk which, he deliberately had to take in order to revive the state's economy.
It was during the beginning of the Char Dham Yatra on 16th June, 2013 that very heavy rain and cloudburst caused severe flooding in the state. About 5000 people including pilgrims were killed in this calamity.
Twelve out of thirteen districts in Uttarakhand bore the brunt of the fury. Rudraprayag, Chamoli Uttarkashi and Pithoragarh were the worst affected districts. The Kedarnath Temple, one of the famous temples of Lord Shiva and part of the Char Dham Yatra was also damaged.
picture courtesy- Ramesh Pathania