EXCESSIVE RAINS AND CLOUD BURST INCIDENTS IN KUMAON DIVISION LED TO EXCESSIVE DAMAGE THOUGH JUNGLE FIRE IN ALMORA UNDER CONTROL

Nature has several twists and turns. Till yesterday in Uttarakhand jungle fires have created havoc with several human deaths and destruction of flora and fauna to a huge extent. But see the immediate change. In Kumaoni regions of Uttarakhand massive rains and cloud burst incidents have changed the entire phenomenon , though extinguishing the damaging ruthless fires in jungles but creating yet again havoc by way of uprising rivers and leading to loss of human lives as well as creating massive destruction. Just yesterday , in Someshwar , Amora district the dreaded cloud burst incidents and massive rains have made the rivulets ( gaderas, drains) badly overflowing with massive rain water but also damaging several vehicles due to boulders and tins of muck / silt falling in them. On Someshwar Kausani Roads there are reports of several vehicles being damaged and the muck in tins entering several houses. The police, SDRF and departmental officials of other departments like flood control etc also busy controlling the situation having gone out of hand. However, till now there is no report of any human loss. Though in various parts of Uttarakhand, in Garhwal and Kumaon divisions there are reports of jungle fires in at least more than three hundred forests locations with extensive destruction to flora and fauna with loss of four human lives and chief minister of Uttarakhand going to Rudraprayag n some other areas holding the pine needles ( peerul) mainly responsible for the extensive fires urging people to collect peerul and sell to the government agencies for Rs. Fifty per Kg, the massive rains in Kumaoni did gave tremendous relief from these fires but on the other hand the overflowing of rivulets n cloudburst incidents have damaged vehicles and residential properties with muck and silt in large quantum entering their houses. The houses of the villagers have witnessed cracks in houses and shops on the roads etc submerged with heavy muck and boulders including excessive filthy water of silts etc. The excessive muck and silt with boulders also damaged the agricultural fields badly . Not only in Someshwar but in Bageshwar also on Wednesday the excessive muck and silt with boulders entered several houses after the rivulets overflowed and entered the houses damaging them. The fire department officials were called to rescue people out of their houses to safe destinations. In addition to this, near Bakhuli at Chaukhutia Dwarhat Marg the road was blocked due to the massive muck and silt with boulders . The efforts by Choukhutia police cleared the way after immense efforts but the Someshwar Kausani road could not be restored despite the best efforts of police , SDRF and other agencies as the muck and silt with boulders was falling on the roads from the mountains repeatedly. According to a news report while the fire in Almora, Dunagiri was extinguished due to rains the damage due to cloud bursts incident at Someshwar, Bageshwar, Kausani have been extensive leading to extensive damage to vehicles, houses and about 121 goats dying at Lamtara Bugyal due to cloud burst. The Kosi river had overflowed due to excessive rains leading to rivulets, drains of the surrounding areas full of running water damaging the local area residential properties.