Heavy rains triggered flash floods in various rivers in Himalayan States of Uttarakhand, Himachal and Jammu forcing the authorities to sound flood. It has left over 40 People missing and over  12 have been reported to be dead.
As many as 40 people, including 19 labourers at a project, are missing after flash floods and cloud bursts ravaged Uttarakhand. The government Sunday asked the ITBP, police and army for help. Twelve people have already died in the calamity, said officials.
The government asked the army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and state police to search for the 19 labourers who went missing at a hydel project in Assi Ganga in Uttarkashi, about 180 km from Dehradun, late Saturday, officials said.
The government also confirmed the death of 12 people, including three children, in the flash floods, cloud bursts and incessant rains that have ravaged the sub-Himalayan state.
Officials said that as many as 40 people were missing across the state, including in Garhwal, Uttarkashi and Chamoli.
With rains continuing in many parts of the state, rescue operations are getting affected, officials said.
Also, due to landslides and washing away of roads, the annual Char Dham yatra has been halted, said officials.
A cluster of homes was washed away in the Gangotri after a bridge collapsed due to rain.
The water levels in Bhagirathi, Alkananda and Yamuna rivers are running at danger levels, officials said. The Bhagirathi soared above the danger level in Uttarkashi and the Ganga was just short of the danger mark at Haridwar. An alert was sounded in areas along the Ganga and its tributaries. Those living in low-lying areas were asked to shift.
Also, all major hydel projects have been shut down following torrential rains. Three small state-run hydel projects in Uttarkashi district have also been damaged. Â Bodies of seven labourers were recovered, while at least 20 others went missing after a flash flood washed away part of the power house of Assi Ganga power project Phase I. Phase II was also damaged. Some 73 houses were destroyed and large tracts of agricultural land washed away.
Producing an average of 18-20 million units a day during the monsoon, the hydel projects have been stopped due to fear of silting and fears of damage.
The Gangori fire station was destroyed and a fire tender and some private vehicles were washed away. The administration evacuated 200 families from the area and lodged them in government buildings. Tents were erected for people stranded in inaccessible areas.
The Gangotri highway was washed away to a length of several kilometres, as was the Gangori hanging bridge. Three firefighters were killed while rescuing people.
Update on 6:30 PM, August 5
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headquartered in New Delhi, has not yet sent any rescue team to Uttarakhand since the state government assured it of having enough manpower for rescue and relief.
“We have a 45-member team ready, but the Uttarakhand government has said they have enough ITBP personnel to take care of the situation,” K.M. Singh, an NDMA member, told IANS.
“We are in constant touch with the government. If they want any help, we would immediately send our team,” he said.
Three state-run hydel projects in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand have also been damaged. Major hydel projects have been stopped.
The state’s disaster management teams are working on restoring communication lines and providing immediate relief to pilgrims on the annual Char Dham yatra stuck on isolated routes.
“The downpour has slowed. But we are still working on restoring communication lines and helping victims in pilgrimage areas,” said an official from the emergency control room in Chamoli.
The yatra to Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath has been halted due to landslides and washing away of roads, said officials.