Dehradun, Sep 25 After the India Meteorological Department issued ‘red’ and ‘orange’ rain alerts for several Uttarakhand districts for September 26 and 27, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed officials on Friday to remain on high alert.
The chief minister appealed to residents and tourists to exercise extreme caution and urged people to travel only if essential and after checking the latest weather and road conditions.
According to the weather forecast, a ‘red’ alert for heavy rain has been issued for five districts on Saturday: Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Champawat, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar. An ‘orange’ alert has been issued for five other districts — Dehradun, Pauri, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, and Almora — while a ‘yellow’ alert is in place for the remaining three districts: Haridwar, Uttarkashi, and Tehri.
For Sunday, a ‘red’ alert has been issued for four districts — Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, and Haridwar; an ‘orange’ alert for four others — Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Nainital, and Rudraprayag; and a ‘yellow’ alert for the remaining five districts — Bageshwar, Almora, Champawat, Udham Singh Nagar, and Pithoragarh.
The meteorological department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in many places and extremely heavy rainfall in some areas during this period. Consequently, mountainous regions face a risk of landslides and road blockages, along with rising water levels in rivers and streams. Waterlogging could occur in the plains.
Dhami urged the public to follow the guidelines issued by the local administration. He advised people to avoid venturing near rivers, streams, seasonal watercourses, and waterlogged areas during heavy rainfall, and warned against entering fast-flowing waters.
He urged people to exercise extra caution on vulnerable roads and in landslide-prone areas within the mountainous regions. The chief minister also appealed to parents not to allow their children to go near rivers, streams, or other hazardous locations.
He directed officials and concerned departments to remain on high alert and continuously monitor sensitive areas — specifically river and stream water levels, landslide-prone zones, mountain routes, the Char Dham Yatra routes, and major tourist destinations.
The chief minister emphasised the need to ensure all necessary preparations are in place so relief and rescue operations can begin immediately in the event of any potential disaster. He instructed that relief and rescue teams, along with essential equipment, JCBs, and other machinery, be kept ready at strategic locations.
(PTI News)
