In Uttarakhand, intermittent rainfall has been continuing across most parts of the state since last night. According to the Met Department, this spell of rain is expected to persist.
The department has issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in most parts of the state. Given the heavy rainfall, the public has been advised to remain cautious.
Meanwhile, due to the ongoing rain alerts, there is a forecast of low to moderate flood risk in the districts of Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri, Nainital, Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag, Tehri, and Uttarkashi.
In response, the State Emergency Operation Centre in Dehradun has advised the district magistrates of all these districts to take necessary precautions in their respective areas.
According to the forecast issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there is a possibility of flood threats in some places in Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Pauri, Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag, Tehri, and Uttarkashi districts over the next 24 hours due to heavy rains.
“Traffic should be controlled while maintaining preparedness and security at every level. In case of any disaster, immediate on-site action should be taken, and information should be exchanged immediately. All the officers and departmental nodal officers nominated for disaster management in the IRS system will remain on high alert,” the letter signed by Deputy Secretary Mahavir Singh Parmar read, reported ANI.
Chamoli Police on Sunday issued an advisory urging residents to stay alert, as continuous rainfall has led to a rising water level in the Alaknanda River.
The districts that face possible danger include Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Pauri Garhwal, Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag, Tehri Garhwal and Uttarkashi. The India Meteorological Department has warned of surface runoff and inundation that may occur at some ‘fully saturated soils’ and ‘low-lying areas’. There is a similar warning issued for four districts of Himachal Pradesh.
The warning letter instructs that no official should switch off their phone. All police stations and chowkis have been asked to ensure that their wireless communication systems are working.
Officials and elected representatives at various levels, including land revenue officials, village development officials, and gram panchayat officials will have to remain at their place of posting. Similarly, all nodal and other officers of the Incident Response System shall remain on high alert.
The directives also ask all citizens to keep raincoats, umbrellas, helmets, torches with them at all times in their vehicles. In general, people have been advised not to step out of their homes till the warning is in place. While schools have not been shut, they are also to remain on high alert.