Heavy rains and storm wreak havoc in Hardwar

Hardwar, Aug 15 (UNI) Heavy rains and storm have wreaked havoc in the district since last evening, with the last 24 hrs have witnessing 287 mm of rainfall, a record after 1924.

Sources in the irrigation department said the Ganga was flowing 1.4 meter above the danger mark yesterday.

District Magistrate Anand Vardhan told UNI today that with the Ganga crossing the danger mark late last evening, a red alert has been sounded in the city and its adjoining areas. The administration of the adjoining districts of Uttar Pradesh have also been intimated with the rising water level in the Ganga.

"We are assessing the extent of damage to property caused by torrential rains," Mr Vardhan said.

As the railway track is submerged under three to four feet of water, all train services have been disrupted and no trains could reach Hardwar and Dehradun. All trains from Dehradun were cancelled.

Railway Station Superintendent, Samrendra Goswami said the train services were likely to be restored by this evening.

The Hardwar-Moradabad national highway was closed for traffic last evening, following heavy rains which uprooted many trees and swept away the check dams on Rawasan river. The national highway is also closed. However, traffic has resumed on the Hardwar-Dehradun national highway which was closed since last evening.

UNI