Record-breaking rains leave at least 54 dead, 5 missing in Uttarakhand, India

Heavy rains triggered by two simultaneous low-pressure systems — one over the Arabian Sea and the other over the Bay of Bengal regions — caused severe floods and landslides in parts of the Indian state of Uttarakhand, since Sunday, October 17, 2021. Massive damage was reported across the state.

According to updated figures released by the state government on October 20, at least 54 people have been killed and 5 remain missing. Most of the fatalities — 28, were reported in the worst affected Nainital district.

The heaviest rains were registered in the Kumaon district where two weather stations received the heaviest rainfall for any 24-hour period since records began.

In 24 hours to Tuesday evening, October 19 (LT), IMD's weather station in Mukteshwar received record-breaking 340.8 mm (13.4 inches) while Pantnagar recorded 403.2 mm (15.8 inches) of rain, Dehradun Meteorological Centre Director Bikram Singh said.¹

The previous record for rain over a 24-hour period at the Mukteshwar station, established in 1897, was 254.5 mm (10 inches), recorded on September 18, 1914.

The previous 24-hour record for the Pantnagar station, established in 1962, is 228 mm (8.9 inches) set on July 10, 1990.

The floods destroyed roads and bridges, and submerged many homes, with some of them crushed by rocks swept into them by landslides.²

Indian Army and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are still conducting rescue and relief operations.

The rains reduced significantly on October 20 and the state is likely to remain dry for the rest of the week, the India Meteorological Center (IMD) said.

References:

¹ Uttarakhand rain toll rises, landslides cut off Nainital – The Indian Express

² Death toll passes 150 in Nepal and India floods – BBC

Featured image credit: ANI (stillshot)