India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warning for extremely heavy rainfall across Uttarakhand during the next 48 hours. State police, NDRF, SDRF and other concerned personnel have been directed to remain on high alert in sensitive areas.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has asked all the officers to work in 24×7 active mode by maintaining mutual coordination and communication with all the districts. Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Haridwar and Tehri districts are experiencing heavy rain since early this morning.
Akashvani correspondent reports, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has given instructions for continuous monitoring of all the districts along with taking special precautions in the sensitive districts from the point of view of disaster. He said that if any officer is found negligent during the disaster, strict action will be taken against him.
Due to incessant rains for the last two days, landslides are taking place in the hilly areas of the state and roads are being blocked repeatedly. Heavy machinery has been deployed day and night to clear the blocked roads.
Keeping in view the safety of the pilgrims and the local people, the administration has banned movement on Rishikesh-Badrinath, Rudraprayag-Gaurikund, Kund-Ukhimath-Chopta-Mandal-Gopeshwar highway and Gangotri-Yamunotri highway from 8 pm to 5 am .
Only emergency and military vehicles will be allowed to move. The continuous rainfall in the mountains has caused all the major rivers and streams in the state, to overflow. The people living in low-lying areas have been advised to move to safer places from the river catchments.
Meanwhile, authorities have announced closure of schools and Anganwadi centers in Dehradun, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Almora, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital districts today in view of heavy rain warning.
Due to heavy rains and landslides, 828 roads including three national highways are closed in Himachal Pradesh and most of the rural areas of the state are immersed in darkness.
Four thousand 6 hundred 86 transformers of electricity and 7 hundred 85 drinking water schemes of Jal Shakti Department are closed in the state. Due to this, people are facing tremendous drinking water crisis in many places of the state including the capital Shimla.
Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall today in seven districts which includes, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti.
Meanwhile, Railway has also taken precautionary measures in view of heavy rain, Shobhan Chaudhari, General Manager, Northern Railway said that around 24 trains running on the Delhi-Ambala route have been cancelled following inclement weather in North India.
In view of prediction of rainy weather, holiday has been declared today for students of classes Nursery to fifth in all Government and Government-aided schools under the Directorate of Education in Delhi. All MCD schools, MCD-aided and Recognised schools will also remain closed for students today.
In Delhi, the water level in the Yamuna River has breached the danger mark. The danger mark of the river is 205.33 metres. Delhi Revenue Minister Atishi said, over 50 motorboats have been deployed in the River for rescue and relief operations, equipped with all necessary tools and equipment.