Lagatar24 Desk
Dehradun: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for several districts in Uttarakhand, warning of extremely heavy rainfall on Friday as the state continues to experience relentless downpours. The weather department has predicted intense rainfall over the next few days, prompting authorities to take precautionary measures.
The IMD bulletin stated, “Isolated extremely heavy rainfall is very likely over Uttarakhand on Friday…Isolated very heavy to heavy rainfall is expected on Friday and Saturday.” The deep depression over northwest Uttar Pradesh is driving the heavy rainfall, which is expected to affect southern parts of Uttarakhand with scattered clouds and “intense convection.”
Roads Blocked, CM Instructs Officials
Amid the ongoing rainfall, several key roads have been closed. The Haldwani-Sitarganj road remains inaccessible due to high water flow in the Shernala area, and authorities have advised residents and travelers to use alternate routes and avoid travel unless necessary.
In Chamoli district, the Badrinath National Highway has been blocked at multiple points, disrupting traffic. The Chamoli Police confirmed roadblocks at Kameda (Gauchar), Nandprayag (Chamoli), and Chhinka (Chamoli) earlier on Friday, although the roads have since reopened.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has instructed the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and district magistrates to remain on high alert. He urged residents to stay cautious and avoid unnecessary travel during the heavy rainfall period.
IMD Warnings for Other States
The IMD also issued warnings for other parts of northern India. “Heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy rain is expected in west Uttar Pradesh, while Haryana, Chandigarh, east Uttar Pradesh, and east Rajasthan are also likely to experience heavy rainfall. Isolated thunderstorms and lightning are expected across northwest India,” the IMD said.
In addition, a yellow alert has been issued for Delhi-NCR, forecasting heavy rainfall for Friday.
