A cloudburst in the Saptarishi area late at night has caused significant damage to Yamunotri Dham and its last stop, Janaki Chatti. Flooding in the Yamuna has resulted in debris and stones filling both hot water ponds at Yamunotri Dham. The bridge wall and the main road leading to the Yamunotri temple have suffered severe damage. Additionally, the VIP room and kitchen for the Pandits have been washed away, and a culvert has been lost.
In Yamunotri Dham, the rooms of the Pujari Mahasabha located along the Yamuna river have been affected, and the street light and temple generator have been destroyed.
In Janaki Chatti, three mules and a motorcycle were swept away. The erosion beneath the Janaki Chatti parking area and the road wall in front of Shubham Place Hotel were also damaged. A police team is currently on the scene. The water level in the Yamuna river surged suddenly due to the cloudburst in Saptarishi.
At midnight, water inundated the parking area in Janaki Chatti, partially submerging the parked vehicles in water and debris. Laborers who were sleeping in the parking area narrowly escaped and saved their lives.
#WATCH | Uttarakhand: Due to heavy rains in Yamunotri, the water level has increased considerably. Due to this, some motorcycles are reported to have been washed away due to river water coming into Janaki Parking. There has been no loss of life. The areas around the river are… pic.twitter.com/YsoN76eBcT
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) July 26, 2024
The administration alerted residents through announcements via loudspeakers at Hanuman Chatti, Syana Chatti, and Kharadi, among other locations along the Yamuna river, during the night. District Magistrate Dr. Meherban Singh Bisht has instructed Sub-District Magistrate Barkot and relevant departments to assess the damage and implement necessary safety measures immediately. Following the District Magistrate’s orders, a team from the Revenue Department, led by Tehsildar Barkot, has arrived in the affected area.
SDRF, police, and administrative personnel evacuated buildings along the riverbank in Janaki Chatti and relocated the affected individuals to safety. The public was warned through police communication in Rana Chatti, Hanuman Chatti, Syana Chatti, and Pali Gad near the Yamuna river. The Yamunotri National Highway was blocked at Dabarkot, Banas, and Hanuman Chatti. Restoration work is underway at Banas, and traffic has been resumed at the other two locations.