Heavy rain continues to wreak havoc across Uttarakhand, forcing the weather office to issue a red alert for Dehradun, Tehri and Haridwar districts, while Uttarkashi, Nainital, Champawat, Pauri and Udham Singh Nagar remain under an orange alert.
Chief Minister Orders High Alert
With conditions worsening, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed the Chief Secretary and the Disaster Management Secretary to stay on high alert. He has asked relief and rescue teams to remain ready round the clock and to restore disrupted services such as roads, power and communication at the earliest. Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman has also instructed every department to stay on a 24x7 alert footing.
Schools Shut in Four Districts on Monday
Keeping children's safety in mind, authorities have declared a holiday for Monday in the worst hit districts. In Chamoli, Udham Singh Nagar, Almora and Pithoragarh, every institution from anganwadi centres to schools running classes 1 to 12 will remain fully shut on Monday. Separately, Dehradun District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan has postponed the Samadhan Diwas grievance session scheduled at the Collectorate on Monday because of the heavy rain warning.
Devotees Warned to Stay Away From Swollen River
Rivers in the capital, Dehradun, are rising quickly because of the continuous downpour. The Tons river, which flows close to the Tapkeshwar Mahadev temple in the Cantt area, is running in full spate. Temple authorities have urged devotees and nearby residents to stay well away from the riverbank.
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Stuck Midway
In Pithoragarh, heavy rain and a landslide have brought the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to a halt. The border road at Garbadhar has now been shut for a second straight day after a major landslide. As a result, the yatra's first batch of pilgrims remains stranded at Bundi, while the fourth batch turned back to base camp, disappointed that the route had not reopened. Officials are keeping a close watch on the Chardham and Mansarovar yatra routes.
