The effects of continuous heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand's hill districts were visible in Rishikesh on Thursday. The Ganga rose above the warning level near Triveni Ghat, prompting authorities to increase safety measures and evacuation efforts along the riverbanks.
Officials from the Central Water Commission said the river is flowing with strong force and has crossed the warning mark. In response, teams from the SDRF, Water Police and Disaster Response Force carried out joint awareness and evacuation drives at Triveni Ghat, Muni Ki Reti and Laxman Jhula.
Using public announcement systems, officials asked devotees, tourists and local residents to leave the ghats and move to safer places. They also warned people not to enter the river, as continuous rain in the upper regions has caused a sharp rise in the water level and increased the speed of the current.
Rescue and disaster response teams have been stationed at sensitive locations and are closely monitoring the situation. Authorities have advised people to stay away from riverbanks, follow official instructions and contact emergency teams immediately if help is needed.
Additional SI (Disaster Relief), Rishikesh, Bishan Singh Kadhka said the river level has increased significantly due to nonstop rainfall since Wednesday night. He said it has been raining continuously since the previous night and weather alerts remain in place. According to him, the river level was already high by around 9 am. Teams from the Jal Police, Water Police and SDRF are monitoring the situation round the clock. Pilgrims are being stopped from taking a dip in the river, and residents living near the ghats have been asked to remain alert, especially during the night.
SDRF ASI Mahavir Chauhan said the force has been directed to ensure that no one enters the river while water levels continue to rise. He said teams are making regular announcements at the ghats because the Ganga has crossed the warning level and is still rising. Rescue personnel are fully equipped and remain prepared to respond to any emergency.
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said an Orange Alert for heavy rainfall has been issued for Dehradun, Bageshwar and Chamoli districts. A short-duration Orange Alert has also been issued for Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri and Uttarkashi.
Suman said the water levels of major rivers, including the Alaknanda, Bhagirathi, Mandakini, Ganga, Yamuna and Sharda, are increasing. In several locations, rivers are flowing above danger levels. He said authorities are monitoring the situation continuously, issuing warnings and carrying out evacuations wherever required.
He further informed that nearly 1,869 roads were blocked due to rain-related incidents, though most have now been reopened. Around 150 roads are still closed. He said the Char Dham Yatra is continuing smoothly, with traffic being regulated temporarily whenever weather conditions create safety concerns. He also said six batches of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra have completed their journey, while the seventh batch is currently in China and other groups are at Nabhidhang and Tanakpur.
In a separate development, Suman chaired a virtual meeting from the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority headquarters in Dehradun to review earthquake preparedness. Discussions were also held on setting up a seismic observatory in Joshimath.
Representatives from the National Centre for Seismology, C-DAC Pune and the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology participated in the meeting. The state government has agreed to provide land for the observatory in Joshimath, which is expected to improve earthquake monitoring and scientific research in the Himalayan region.
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