Continuous heavy rain in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district has pushed the water levels of the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers above the warning mark. The district administration has issued a high alert and asked officials to remain on maximum alert.
People living close to the riverbanks have been advised to move to safer places if needed. All concerned departments have also been asked to stay prepared to handle any possible natural disaster.
Following the weather alert issued by the India Meteorological Department, the district administration has directed officials to maintain strict vigil in their respective areas. Departments concerned have been told to remain fully prepared and keep relief and rescue teams ready with all essential equipment and resources.
Secretary of Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Vinod Kumar Suman said preparations had already been made after orange alerts were issued for several areas.
He said, "An orange alert had already been issued for some districts, warning of the possibility of heavy rainfall. The districts were informed in advance, and preparations were made accordingly. Necessary steps are being taken wherever required."
Speaking about the damage caused by the rain, Suman said the impact so far had been minor. He said debris had collected near Kanchan Nala close to Badrinath and at some places near Guptkashi, resulting in road closures. Dehradun has also reported waterlogging at two or three locations, along with debris at a few other spots.
Suman said the overall situation across the state remained normal and under control. He said a bridge near Ninda Ki Chowki had suffered minor damage. All districts are on alert and officials are keeping a close watch on the situation. He added that rain was expected to continue until Tuesday afternoon, while rainfall is likely to continue across the state for the next three days.
Meanwhile, heavy rain since Monday night led to the collapse of part of a newly built bridge between Prem Nagar and Nanda Ki Chowki on the Dehradun-Paonta Sahib Highway. The damage disrupted traffic on the route.
Dehradun District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan said traffic on the road was expected to resume within three to four hours. He said the bridge's structural design was safe and that further action would be taken later. For now, he said, the administration's main focus was to restore traffic movement as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the Char Dham Yatra has been suspended for Tuesday and Wednesday as a precautionary measure. Several pilgrimage routes have been blocked by landslides, while a heavy rainfall alert has also been issued.
The Garhwal Divisional Commissioner said the pilgrimage would resume after weather conditions improve and the routes are cleared and declared safe for pilgrims.
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