Uttarakhand: Dark clouds hover over Dehradun as weather department issues heavy rain alert
Dehradun, August 10
Dark clouds cover Dehradun and adjoining areas on Monday as the weather department issued an alert for moderate to heavy rainfall over parts of the state in the coming hours.
The weather department stated that some areas could receive moderate to heavy rainfall during the next two to three hours. Isolated locations may also witness intense to very intense spells of rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning. The changing weather conditions were visible across the state capital, with dense clouds covering the sky and raising the possibility of rainfall in several parts of the city and surrounding areas.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Dehradun predicted widespread light to moderate rain and thundershowers across most districts of Uttarakhand. For the first two days of the forecast, August 10 and 11, precipitation is expected at most places throughout the state. As the week progresses, the intensity remains steady in the hilly regions, though the distribution in the plains districts of Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar is expected to decrease to only a few isolated places.
Severe weather warnings have been issued for specific districts, particularly on August 10, when heavy to very heavy rain is anticipated in isolated areas of Dehradun, Bageshwar, Nainital, and Champawat. These regions are also at risk for thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and extremely intense spells of rain. Furthermore, the IMD has identified a low to moderate flash flood risk for several watersheds in Bageshwar, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag, and Uttarkashi, noting that surface runoff and inundation may occur in low-lying areas.
In response to these conditions, authorities have issued several safety advisories to mitigate the impact of potential landslides and road blockages. Residents in vulnerable hilly areas are urged to remain alert, and pilgrims or tourists traveling to Chardham are advised to travel only if necessary and keep a close watch on steep slopes. The report also warns of rising water levels in rivers and streams, advising those living near riverbanks or in low-lying areas to stay vigilant against sudden flash floods and to avoid crossing active landslide zones.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The Chardham yatra is at its peak right now and this kind of weather is really risky. I think the administration should consider temporarily stopping the pilgrimage until things settle down. One life is more precious than any yatra.
Finally the IMD is getting more accurate with their predictions! Earlier we used to ignore these alerts but now they are quite reliable. City drainage in Dehradun is still a mess though. Every time it rains heavily, the roads get waterlogged. Should we not prepare for that as well?
I live near the bank of river in Dehradun and the water level has already risen since last night. These flash flood warnings are helpful but I wish the authorities would also clear the encroachments in low-lying areas. Those poor families are at huge risk during such times.
The sky looks really ominous today ☁️ I have seen many monsoons in Uttarakhand but this one feels heavy. Everyone in hilly areas should be extra cautious. Also, when will we have developed early warning systems that can alert villagers in remote areas? Mobile networks are weak there.
I appreciate the administration for issuing timely advisories but at the same time, I hope our disaster management teams are also ready on ground. Last time during such rains, many roads got blocked and help took hours to arrive. Preventive measures are as important as warnings.
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