Life disrupted in Kumaon region, one killed

Our correspondent

Pithoragarh March 30

Damage to Rabi crops, besides blockage of some vital roads in Pithoragarh district and death of one person and loss to property was reported from Bageshwar district following rain and snow in various parts of the Kumaon region in the last 24 hours . “Parts of Dharchula, Pithoragarh, Gangolihat and Pithoragarh sub- divisions were lashed by heavy hailstones, causing damage to Rabi crops and vegetables,” said the district disaster management officer.

In Pithoragarh district, the continuous rain in lower valleys and snowfall in higher valleys of Dharchula and Munsiyari subdivisions caused inconvenience to the common people. “People took out their woollens for the second time in a month’s time as the temperature of the lower valleys dipped to 3.8 degree Celsius in the district this morning,” said RS Rana, district disaster management officer of Pithoragarh district.

The highest rain was measured in Dharchula subdivision where it poured 32 mm in the last 24 hours followed by Gangolihat, Didihat, Munsiyari, Berinag and Pithoragarh subdivisions where it was measured at 31.0, 22.00, 19.0, 18.00 and 12.80 mm, respectively, in the last 24 hours. The higher reaches of Gunji, Kuti, Garabiyang and Kalapani received more than 1 feet of snowfall during the 24 hours.

According to the disaster management office sources, besides damage to three houses each in the Pithoragarh and Gangolihat subdivisions, crop damage has been reported from all parts. Reports from across the district said that due to heavy rains and thundershowers, the satellite towns of Wadda, Rai, Chandak and villages of Gangolihat, Thal , Nachni and Munsiyari areas suffered cut in electricity supply. “ We have deputed over 15 JCB machines to act quickly as the landslides were reported from Thal to Munsiyari and Rameswar to Panar in the district,” said the officer.

According to reports received from Bageshwar district administration, a person died and some livestock perished when lightening struck them last evening at Garur town of the district. Prakash Phuleria (30) died instantly when lightning struck him when he was about to go to his work last evening, said SS Kushwaha, police station in charge of Bageshwar thana . According to reports, several pet animals in surrounding villages died due to lightning which also brought in heavy rains damaging crops and vegetables in the district.