How Uttarakhand's Naini Lake turned into a lake of destruction

Posted on 20th Oct 2021 by rohit kumar

The record-breaking rain in Uttarakhand has created havoc, especially in the Kumaon region. The most effective of rain has been shown on Nainital, famous for its locks and tourist spot.

 

The Kosi, Gaula, Ramganga, Mahakali as well as all the rivers and streams of the area are in spate and hundreds of landslides have caused many houses to be grounded and most of the roads blocked.

 

Kumaon DIG Nilesh Bharene told the BBC, "So far 46 people have been confirmed dead and rescue operation is going on in remote areas."

 

In such a situation, it is feared that the number of casualties may increase. He said, “Operation is going on in different areas. The force has reached there on foot in the areas where there is no condition for vehicles to go. The epicenter of the disaster has been in the areas of Mukteshwar and Ramgarh in the Nainital district.

 

On Tuesday, all the roads leading to Nainital were blocked due to debris at many places, but DIG Bharane told that all the roads have been opened and now the traffic is smooth.

 

Most rain in 124 years

According to the data recorded by the Meteorological Center, Uttarakhand, this is the highest rainfall so far in the last 124 years in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.

 

Bikram Singh, Director, Meteorological Center, Uttarakhand said, "The first meteorological station was established in 1897 at Mukteshwar in Nainital district. According to the data recorded since then, the maximum rainfall of 254.5 mm was recorded in Kumaon on 18 September 1914 and in 24 hours the Mukteshwar Meteorological Center has recorded 340.8 mm of rain.

 

Similarly, the record of rain has also been broken in the plains of Kumaon and 403.2 mm of rain has been recorded in the Pantnagar Meteorological Center in 24 hours. Whereas in the figures recorded so far, on 10 July 1990, the highest rainfall was recorded at 228 mm.

 

Bikram Singh said that the Western Disturbance stopped the moist winds rising from the Bay of Bengal by 75 degrees eastwards, due to which the moist winds rising upwards caused this heavy rain.

 

According to the Meteorological Center, heavy to extremely heavy rainfall has been recorded in each of its stations, which is an unprecedented situation. However, now this situation has been averted and now the weather will return to normal.

 

Naini lake overflow

On the other hand, Nainital's famous Naini Lake overflowed amidst heavy rains, flooding the Naina Devi temple complex, Mall Road, and Naya Bazaar area of ​​Tallital in Mallital and flooded many shops and homes.

 

Rajeev Lochan Sah, a resident of Tallital said, "We are on an island surrounded by water all around. There is a dreadful sight everywhere. We have spent the whole night in such fear.

 

Priyanka Bisht, who lives in Tallital Krishnapur, says, "I have never seen Naini lake overflow like a flood in my life. So much water is flowing from the lake that shops and people's houses in Naya Bazaar and Bhawali Road have been flooded. People have suffered a lot."

 

Shekhar Pathak, an environmentalist, and historian living in the city of Nainital say, "Even in history, such extreme natural conditions have been created near Nainital. Similar heavy rains had occurred in 1920-21 and before that in 1880, after heavy rains from 14th to 18th of September, there was a major landslide on the hill of upper end of Naini Lake. Due to which 155 people died. This time the heavy rains and floods have created an atmosphere of fear here.

 

Pathak also adds, "Such an overflow has not been observed so far in the known history of Nainital Lake. One reason for this has been the phenomenal rains, and the second reason has been that the passage of water built in the lake bridge has also been made with impunity. It had to be made bigger. Due to the rains, so much water came from all the drains that brought water to the lake that it could not be drained with that speed and the area of ​​Tallital was flooded.

 

Apart from Ramgarh, Ramnagar, Kainchi, Okhalkonda, and other areas of Nainital district, people have been badly affected due to floods and landslides in Udham Singh Nagar, Almora, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, and Champawat districts.

 

Relief and rescue agencies are engaged in rescue work and two helicopters of the Air Force have also been sent to the affected areas for relief. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has made an aerial tour of the rain-affected areas and appealed to the people to have patience and restraint.

 

what are the causes of disaster?

Environmentalists and scientists say about such heavy rains in October, usually after the end of the monsoon, that such events are a clear indication of the change in the weather cycle.

 

Ravi Chopra, senior scientist, and environmentalist associated with the People's Science Institute says, "It is being seen continuously that the earlier rain which used to be in Chaumasa (in the rainy season), its behavior has changed in the past. Scientists began to say in the 1980s that when the weather changes, the temperature will rise and the rain that will be there will be fewer days but will be heavier. So this year also and in recent years we have seen the same thing happen.