With light to medium rainfall in places with thunderstorms being experienced in different areas of the State on Friday, a flood advisory for Haridwar was issued on Friday evening by the Himalayan Ganga division of the Central Water Commission, Dehradun. The advisory stated that the level of water in the Ganga was measured at 292.82 metres at 1600 hours in Haridwar on Friday. Water level is rising and may cross warning level 293 metres after some time.
The official communication further informed that the rise in water level at Haridwar had been caused by flushing /gate operation at the Pashulok barrage at Rishikesh and contribution of local catchment. The water level may rise further for some time and thereafter fall. The level may vary depending on the gate operation at Pashulok barrage, concluded the official release.
No reports were received about major flooding in Haridwar till the time of this news report being filed. According to the forecast issued by the State meteorological centre of the Indian Meteorological Department, there is possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall likely to occur at isolated places over the districts of Uttarakhand on July 16 and 17 too.
Considering this, the authorities concerned have issued a take-action level warning especially for July 17 and 18. The weather forecast in general for the State on July 16 states the likelihood of cloudy sky with moderate rain /thunderstorm very likely at most places in Uttarakhand.
Further, the weather forecast for July 17 is the possibility of cloudy sky with moderate rain / thunderstorm very likely to occur at most places in the State. On July 18, the weather in general across the state is forecast to exhibit partly to generally cloudy sky with chances of light to moderate rain/thunderstorm likely to occur at many places in the State. For July 16 and 17 the meteorological centre has forecast the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall likely to occur at a few places over the districts of Uttarakhand.
Meanwhile, according to official data, more than 400 disaster affected persons in the Pithoragarh are staying in relief camps set up by the administration. As on Friday evening, in the Pithoragarh District the Tawaghat-Kanjyoti –Sobla motor road was blocked to traffic near Khet.
While the Munsiyari-Madkot-Jauljivi motor road, Thal-Didihat motor road, Ghat-Pithoragarh-Ogla motor road and the Jauljivi-Baluvakot-Dharchula motor road have been reopened for traffic, about 13 rural roads were reported to be blocked in the district. Further, officials informed that about 100 disaster affected people in the Chamoli district are staying in relief camps set up by the administration. The Rishikesh-Badrinath national highway number 58 is open for small and large vehicles up to Badrinath though 43 other motor roads in the district are blocked to traffic.