Uttarakhand Orange Alert Issued for Four Districts Over 90 Roads Blocked
Uttarakhand is bracing for heavy to very heavy rainfall today, Tuesday, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for four key districts: Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Tehri, and Rudraprayag. Widespread heavy rainfall across the state since Saturday night has already disrupted daily life, triggering landslides and blocking numerous roads, prompting authorities to mobilize disaster response teams and issue advisories for residents and pilgrims.
Simultaneously, a yellow alert has been sounded for other districts including Nainital, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Almora, Chamoli, Haridwar, and Udham Singh Nagar, forecasting thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds up to 40 kmph. In response to the orange alert, schools in Tehri, encompassing all private institutions, government schools up to Class 12, and Anganwadi centers, have been ordered shut for the day as a precautionary measure. Areas like Ranikhet, Roorkee, Rudrapur, Laksar, Badrinath, and Govindghat are particularly singled out for heightened caution due to sporadic weather deterioration.
The relentless rainfall has caused significant disruption across the hill districts. According to the State Emergency Operations Center, heavy rainfall has triggered multiple landslides and road closures. The Vikas Nagar-Barkot National Highway is blocked by debris, and several state highways—one in Chamoli, two in Dehradun, three in Pauri, and four in Tehri—have become inaccessible. In total, 121 roads have been impacted, with 93 remaining shut. A severe landslide near Bhapkund in Jyotirmath, Chamoli, has damaged a 10-meter stretch of the Malari Highway, halting movement to the sensitive China border region.
The Alaknanda river’s water level has surged, submerging Gandhi Ghat near Brahmakapal in Badrinath. Torrential rains in Badrinath Dham also caused Kanchan Nala to overflow, blocking traffic for five hours and stranding 1,530 pilgrims, who were safely evacuated by police. Officials advise residents to avoid unnecessary travel, especially in landslide-prone zones, refrain from venturing near rivers, stay indoors during lightning, and keep mobile phones charged, emphasizing that vigilance is crucial given the state’s challenging terrain during monsoon.
