The Central Water Commission on Saturday informed that River Ganga is flowing at danger level in Rishikesh and Haridwar in Uttarakhand. After three days of incessant rains in the Himalayan state, Ganga and Bhagirathi rivers crossed the danger marks. Ganga exceeded the danger level in Haridwar and Rishikesh. Bhagirathi crossed the danger mark at Devprayag in Tehri district.

The Ganga was flowing at 294.1 metres, 0.10 metres above its danger mark in Haridwar. The river exceeded the danger level in Rishikesh and was flowing four centimetres above it.

CWC Superintending Engineer Rajesh Kumar said that Triveni Ghat was evacuated on Friday. The Ghat was reported to be inundated. At Devprayag in Tehri district, the Bhagirathi was flowing at 465.0 metres, two metres above the danger level at 463.0 metres.

Officials stated that the residents of villages on the banks of the rivers are being moved to shelters run by the district administrations concerned and other safe locations.

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Over the last three days, Uttarakhand has witnessed heavy rains. Chamoli received 142 mm of rainfall on Saturday followed by Karnaprayag with 136 mm, Sri Nagar in Pauri district 128 mm, Rudraprayag 103.8 mm, Joshimath 97.2 mm and Rishikesh 53 mm.

Disaster Management office said that the Alaknanda river in Chamoli district was flowing two metres below the danger mark. The office also stated that Pindar river was flowing 1.5 metres below the danger level in Karnaprayag, Chamoli District.

Landslides were triggered by heavy rains in the district. As a result, three national highways and 84 motor roads were blocked with mounds of rubble.

Later on Friday night, Twenty-seven stranded people including women and children between Mona Cheda and Nalgaon in Chamoli district were rescued and brought to Narayanbagad.

District Disaster Management Centre at Gopeshwar said that the Badrinath National Highway is blocked at two places between Pipalkoti and Badrinath. The centre further stated that the Gwaldam National Highway is blocked between Tharali and Karnaprayag. This highway links Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand.

The District Disaster Management Centre said that the Gairsain highway was also blocked between Simly and Adi Badri.

District Disaster Management officer of Pithoragarh Bhupender Singh Mahar said that Pithoragarh in Kumaon region has also been lashed by heavy rains. He added that the main link road to Haldwani and Tanakpur markets besides around 22 major rural roads is closed.

Due to landslides in Almora, several key motor roads including that which link the district with Haldwani have been closed.

Almora’s District Disaster Management Officer Rakesh Joshi said, “Besides closure of roads, several villages in the district also complained of disruption of power supply.”

Due to a tree collapsing on the road, Samna-Liti road in Kapkot block of Bageshwar district has also been blocked.