Heavy rains in Uttarakhand disrupt pilgrimage to Badrinath 

Dehradun: Heavy rains lashed most parts of Uttarakhand on Saturday. This is affecting normal life and disrupting pilgrimage to Badrinath with the highway leading to the Himalayan shrine choked as boulders falling from hillsides in the wake of landslips.

The MeT department forecasts heavy rains over the next 48 hours in the mountainous areas in Uttarakhand. Mostly, the disaster-prone Pithoragarh, Uttarkashi, Chamoliand Rudraprayag districts receive torrential rains and this may trigger flash floods, cloudbursts and landslides asking people as well as authorities to be alert.

Vikram Singh, MeT office Director

We need to be watchful over the next 48 hours which may see very heavy rainfall within a few hours in Pithoragarh, Uttarkashi, Chamoliand Rudraprayag districts. Very heavy rains within a few hours may lead to flash floods, cloudbursts and landslides. So people must be alert

“We need to be watchful over the next 48 hours which may see very heavy rainfall within a few hours in Pithoragarh, Uttarkashi, Chamoliand Rudraprayag districts. Very heavy rains within a few hours may lead to flash floods, cloudbursts and landslides. So people must be alert,” said MeT office Director Vikram Singh.
He advised Chardham yatris to follow weather alerts and move strictly in accordance with instructions issued by the administration. Heavy rain began last night and is still continuing in most parts of the state. The two-day heavy downpour has affected the pilgrimage to Badrinath with the Rishikesh-Badrinath Highway blocked by debris falling from hillsides following landslips at Lambagad between Joshimath and Badrinath and at Naithana near Chamoli.

Pilgrims bound for the Himalayan shrine have been asked to wait in safe locations built for them en route the shrine till the highway is cleared of the obstructions, the Disaster Management office in Chamoli said. Another spell of heavy rains has added to the woes of the residents of Ghat area of Chamoli district still struggling to overcome the effects of the flash floods on July 1 which claimed four lives and blocked over a dozen motor roads cutting off at least 40 villages from the district headquarters.

As per the latest updates provided by the MeT department Haldwani in Nainital district received the maximum of 100 MM of rains followed by Mussoorie 96 MM, Srinagar 88.2 MM , Dehradun 74.8 MM,Ukhimath 66.3 MM, Nainital 56 MM and Haridwar 53 MM. Dehradun MeT office Director said an improvement in weather conditions is expected from July 18 onwards when rainfall activity is likely to drop. A report from Rishikesh said overnight heavy rains have sent the Ganga into spate.

Source: PTI