Brace for more; Rains, snow are here to stay

The Uttarakhand Meteorological Centre has forecast moderate to rather heavy rainfall at many places along the Char Dham Yatra routes, particularly Kedarnath on Friday. Heavy rain could occur at isolated places especially in Nainital, Almora and Pithoragarh districts of Uttarakhand. The higher reaches of the mountain districts of Uttarakhand received moderate rainfall with snow while moderate to rather heavy rainfall occurred in plain districts on Thursday.

Anand Sharma, director of Uttarakhand Meteorological Centre, said on Thursday that he has informed the district officers of all such districts of the possibility of heavy rains. The administrations of the concerned districts are learnt to be gearing up for any eventuality in view of the warning. 

Additional director general of police (administration) Ram Singh Meena said that SDRF personnel deployed at various important places have been put on alert following heavy rain and warning of the same in the coming days.  

Meanwhile, the higher reaches of the mountainous districts of Uttarakhand received moderate rainfall along with snow while moderate to rather heavy rainfall occurred in the plain districts on Thursday. Dehradun district received 20 mm of rain. Rainfall recorded in different places by 8.30 am on Thursday was 37mm in Chamoli, 12mm in Almora, 15mm in Bageshwar, 62mm in Champawat, 13mm in Pauri, 20mm in Tehri, 42mm in Haridwar, 63mm in Nainital, 31mm in Pithoragarh, 47mm in Rudraprayag, 48mm in Pantnagar, 13 mm in Uttarkashi and 47mm in Banbasa.  

Dehradun residents witnessed rain throughout the day that dipped temperature by nine degrees as compared to normal. Several places in the city were waterlogged, leading to the residents face inconvenience. Roads being slippery, the people driving cars or two-wheelers faced problems.  Rains and water-logging spawned traffic snarls along several thoroughfares skirting through the city.

Sharma said that the maximum and minimum temperatures in Dehradun were recorded at 23.2°C and 21.2°C respectively on Thursday. The weather forecast for Dehradun on Friday is cloudy sky with the possibility of one or two spells of rain/thunder showers in some areas. The maximum and minimum temperatures for Dehradun are likely to be around 27°C and 21°C respectively on Friday.  The weather forecast for Uttarakhand on Friday is cloudy sky. light to moderate rain/thunderstorm would occur at many places with the likelihood of  rather heavy rainfall at a few places.

ADGP Meena said they are doing everything to ensure safety of all in view of the warning.  Besides, the tourists have been advised to be cautious when picnicking around the rivers as there is a possibility of a sudden rush of water due to rains in upper reaches of the state. During the monsoon, cloud bursts, lightning and landslides cause loss of lives and property in various parts of the state. The visitors who venture out to the riverbeds should be alert, he said. The people have been advised not to cross the rivers in case the water is found rising.