Dehradun: As the heavy rains are lashing the various parts of Uttarakhand during monsoon, an orange alert again sounded in Kumaon’s Bageshwar with a yellow alert for heavy rains in remaining districts on Friday. Heavy rains along with thundershower and lightning are forecasted by the Indian Meteorological Department, Dehradun.
Light to moderate rains are likely in some districts
Light to moderate rain is expected in parts of Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, and Almora. Additionally, districts such as Tehri, Pauri, and Dehradun in the Garhwal region, along with Nainital, Bageshwar, and Champawat in the Kumaon region, are likely to experience moderate rainfall in most areas.
Normal life is severely affected by heavy rains
Amidst heavy rainfall in the hilly regions, residents are experiencing major disruptions due to frequent landslides and rockfalls, which have damaged houses, buildings, roads, and highways. Overflowing rivers and widespread soil erosion have heightened fears among those living along riverbanks, with many homes submerged due to flooding. A recent landslide in Ghuttu village, Tehri, caused significant damage due to heavy rainfall and a cloudburst on Wednesday night. The landslide resulted in the loss of livestock and widespread property damage. Rescue operations are ongoing to assist those affected.
Pilgrims/ tourists are advised to take precaution
The IMD predicts that heavy rains may cause rockfalls and mudslides in many areas. Intense rainfall could also lead to flooding and sudden increases in water flow in rivulets, resulting in bank erosion, overflows, and flash floods. Residents in landslide-prone areas should remain cautious. Pilgrims and tourists traveling to Char Dham or other locations in the state are advised to stay alert and watch for steep slopes while traveling.
57 people has died in disasters since 15 June
Since June 15, natural disasters have claimed 57 lives, and on Thursday, 260 roads were blocked due to debris in various locations. The heavy rains have also impacted the Char Dham Yatra, with minimal pilgrim turnout as the All-weather Road has been severely affected by frequent landslides. On Thursday, Badrinath saw 883 pilgrims, Kedarnath had 227, Gangotri welcomed 544, and 549 visited the Yamunotri shrine.