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Tribune News Service
Mussoorie, May 24
High-velocity wind and heavy rainfall threw the life out of gear in the Garhwal region yesterday.
Two persons died, one each in Tehri and Jaunpur, while a woman was injured on the Narayanbagad-Parkhal road after trees fell on them.
The bad weather resulted in loss of property, livestock and traffic congestion in several areas, especially on the Char Dham Yatra route.
Electricity, telephone and broadband services were disrupted as the windstorm uprooted several poles and trees. There was a blackout in most parts of the region.
No sooner the windstorm hit Mussoorie, tourists ran to their hotels and restaurants. Lightning also damaged set top boxes.
In Uttarkashi district, an under-construction bridge on the Bhagirathi river near Athali village collapsed. Though residents said the incident had brought to the fore the use of substandard material in construction, the contractor maintained the bridge collapsed due to the windstorm.
National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd (NBCC) was constructing the 330-tonne bridge, which was near completion. The NBCC has been accused of carrying out substandard work in the past as well. The NBCC had constructed a Bailey bridge on Asi Ganga near Digila in Uttarkashi district which had collapsed, resulting in the death of a labourer two years ago. The district administration had lodged a case against NBCC officials but no action was taken.
The NBCC has been involved in the construction of eight bridges in the district. Four of these have been completed.
Several attempts to establish contact with NBCC official Nawal Kishore failed as he did not respond to the phone calls.
Meanwhile, the movement of pilgrims in Gangotri and Yamnotri was halted. Roads of Gangori-Sangam Chatti, Mahidanda, Badethi-Tekhla and Purola-Mori were blocked due to bad weather. Electricity and water supply remained affected for at least half an hour. Mangoes, apricots and other fruits were damaged. The apple fruit belt escaped the wrath of the storm at Harsil, said farmers.
In Tehri district, a man died after a tree fell on him in Patudi village. Another tree fell on a car and an under construction house in Ghansali.
Sandstorm in the Kandi Saud area made commuting a Herculean task.
In Jaunpur block, a man died after a tree fell on him in Ontad village. Sachita of revenue police said the victim was going to bring back his cattle herd from a nearby mountain when the incident took place.
The strong winds damaged the newly-constructed huts in New Tehri.
Meanwhile, police rescued four tourists stuck in the Tehri lake.
UPCL Executive Engineer Shakti Prasad said electricity lines were damaged in different places and the repair work could take some days to restore the power supply.
Trees in large numbers were uprooted in Karnaprayag, Narayanbagad, Gauchar and Adi Badri region. Falling of trees blocked the Narayanbagar road, damaged a scooter and a lodge in Semili market in Karnaprayag and injured 44-year-old Kendar Devi on Narayanbagad-Parkhal road.
Boulders rolling down to Karnaprayag-Gwaldam road left a truck damaged. Mudslide and boulders blocked the traffic for several hours on the road. At Gauchar, a tin roof of the diesel and petrol store of the ITBP unit was blown away by the storm. A tree fell on several shops at Ramlila ground.
A cattle shed, owned by Kedar Dutt, got completely damaged in Chidinga Malla village. Several trees were uprooted in Adi Badri region.
Chief Minister Harish Rawat has directed the officials concerned to assess the damage owing to the windstorm in the state.
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