Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand massive flood

Uttarakakhand From 14 to 17 June 2013, the Indian state of Uttarakhand and adjoining areas received heavy rainfall, which was about 375 percent more than the benchmark rainfall during a normal monsoon.This caused the melting of Chorabari Glacier at the height of 3800 metres, and eruption of the Mandakini River which led to heavy floods near Gobindghat, Kedar Dome, Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Western Nepal, and acute rainfall in other nearby regions of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and some parts of Tibet.

Heavy rainfall for four consecutive days as well as melting snow aggravated the floods. Warnings by the India Meteorological Department predicting heavy rains were not given wide publicity beforehand, causing thousands of people to be caught unaware, resulting in huge loss of life and property. In the city of Dehra Dun, capital of Uttarakhand, this was the wettest June day for over five decades.

But then the question still remains, was this massacre more man made and less due to nature?

What else can one expect when the nature is raped by mining mafia, real estate crooks that construct 5-storey buildings, hotels and guest houses on river bed and cutting down thousands of hectares of forests and building scores of dams indiscriminately in an ecologically sensitive zone disregarding warnings given by Environmentalists?
In June 2013, a multi-day cloudburst centered on the North Indian state of Uttarakhand caused devastating floods and landslides in the country's worst natural disaster since the 2004 tsunami

As of 16 July 2013, according to figures provided by the Uttarakhand government, more than 5,700 people were "presumed dead."This total included 934 local residents.

RESCUE OPERATIONS

The Army, Air Force, Navy, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Border Security Force, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Public Works Department and local administrations worked together for quick rescue operations.Several thousand soldiers were deployed for the rescue missions. Helicopters were used to rescue people, but due to the rough terrain, heavy fog and rainfall, maneuvering them was a challenge. By 21 June 2013, the Army had deployed 10,000 soldiers and 11 helicopters,the Navy had sent 45 naval divers, and the Air force had deployed 43 aircraft including 36 helicopters.

On 25 June, one of 3 IAF Mil Mi-17 rescue helicopters returning from Kedarnath, carrying 5 Air Force Officers, 9 of the NDRF, and 6 of the ITBP crashed on a mountainous slope near Gauri Kund, killing all on board.The deceased soldiers were given a ceremonial Guard of honour by Home minister of India, at a function organised by the Uttarakhand State Government.

OUR Indian Army and Air force worked with full potential and courage and saved many people who were into this massacre but their were many who lost their lives.