Ganga crosses danger mark in Uttarakhand

KEDARNATH PILGRIMAGE HAS BEEN PUT ON HOLD TILL FURTHER ORDERS DUE TO THE INCESSANT RAINFALL IN REGION

The district administration in Haridwar sounded an alert after incessant rainfall led to river Ganga flowing above the danger mark.

The overflowing river on Wednesday submerged the platform at the iconic Dashashwamedh Ghat, where the Ganga aarti takes place daily.

The rise in the water level forced organisers to shift the aarti to higher and safer ground, said Sushant Mishra of Ganga Seva Nidhi, which conducts the Ganga aarti. According to district magistrate Deepak Rawat officials have been asked to focus on the low-lying areas where flooding could happen.

The death toll due to rain-related incidents in Uttarakhand shot up by one when a Van Gujjar died after drowning in the Asan River in Jhajra area of Dehradun district on Wednesday noon, according to officials.

With this the total deaths in state since Tuesday have reached seven.

The heavy rains since Monday night have thrown life out of gear. More than 150 roads are blocked in the state. The Dehradun-Delhi national highway was blocked in the morning and was cleared by the noon. The Yamnotri highway was however closed till the filing of this report. Major rivers in the state are flowing close to the danger mark.

The Rudraprayag district administration has stopped the Kedarnath pilgrimage till further orders. The MeT department has predicted heavy to very heavy rains in next 24 hours.