The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued fresh alerts for different districts of Uttarakhand which may lead to landslides and flash floods in the hill state.
Several districts of Kumaon and Garhwal regions are likely to witness heavy and extremely heavy rains in the coming days. The IMD has issued a red alert in the state on Wednesday and an orange alert from Thursday to Saturday.
Dehradun Meteorological Department director Bikram Singh told India Today that the next four to five days could prove crucial for the hill state.
Red and Orange alert
As per IMD’s red alert, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur in Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Nainital, Champawat, Udham Singh Nagar, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh and Haridwar districts of Uttarakhand on Wednesday. While isolated places in the rest of the districts could witness heavy rainfall as well.
Also, fresh orange alerts issued by the IMD read that Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar, Nainital and Pithoragarh districts of Uttarakhand are likely to witness heavy rainfall. Light rains and thunderstorms might occur at other isolated places in the state from Thursday to Saturday.
Bikram Singh said that extremely heavy rainfall could trigger more incidents of landslides in sensitive areas of Uttarakhand, especially those located in the interior parts.
Heavy rain may also lead to a rise in water levels of several rivers of Uttarakhand, making them move closer towards danger levels, he said. He further added, a flash flood-like situation might occur four to five days from now.
The IMD has issued detailed advisories for the orange and red alert days. Bikram Singh said that travelers should avoid unnecessary journeys on these days as much as possible.
IMD’s advisory for red alert days
1. Settlements/people residing near the rivulets/streams should remain alert
2. Farmers are advised to harvest the ripe crops and vegetables and store them in safe places
3. Dam management and control authorities have been advised to take the necessary precautionary measures
Bikram Singh said that the state disaster management authority and the state government have been alerted about the bad weather conditions as well.
Disaster Response teams on alert
Not only the locals, but disaster response authorities and devotees have also been advised to remain alert during the orange and red alert days. The State Disaster Response Force and the District Disaster Response Force are on the toes.
The SDRF teams have been deployed in every district of the state and the districts also have DDRF units.
For instance, in Rudraprayag, there are six teams of District Disaster Response Force (DDRF) and two teams of the SDRF. Rudraprayag is the common point for three pilgrimages — Kedarnath Yatra, Badrinath Yatra and the Hemkund Sahib Yatra. While areas such as Sirohbagad are prone to landslides, the increase in the water level in rivers — Alaknanda and Mandakini — poses further threats. As per the local administration, the present teams are capable of tackling whatever is on the cards.
Water level in Alaknanda river rises after heavy rainfall on Tuesday.
India Today met the sub-unit of Almora’s SDRF company stationed in Kapkot. Rajendra Mehra, the team leader of the Kapkot SDRF unit, said they were prepared for the worst that monsoon fury might bring.
The Kapkot SDRF unit were on the ground, responding to the emergency call in the Saryu river.
SDRF Kapkot unit during an emergency operation on Saryu River in Bageshwar.
“We are trained to respond to landslide situations, water and river rescue operations. Our training includes providing emergency medical treatment to those trapped in these situations,” Rajendra Mehra told India Today.
He said, in case the rescue situation becomes very critical, teams from other units are roped in.
The early trends of IMD alerts have started to show in different parts of Uttarakhand. In Champawat and Haldwani, buses met with accidents due to the monsoon streams — called gadheras. Rivers such as Alaknanda, Gori and Kali are already inching towards the danger level. And the heavy rainfall could further spike the concerns for those living around these rivers.
