Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 2 Sep: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a weather forecast, according to which Uttarakhand is likely to receive heavy rainfall at isolated places between 3 and 8 September. The weather department has also forecast very heavy rainfall at some places in the state on tonight onwards
According to the IMD, heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in Uttarakhand from Thursday, 3 September, till Tuesday, 8 September. The department has warned that the rainfall could be intense at some places and may have a significant impact on normal life. The forecast comes at a time when several parts of the state have already been witnessing persistent rainfall and weather-related disruptions.
The Uttarakhand Meteorological Centre of IMD, in Dehradun has also issued its weather forecast up to 8 September. According to the forecast, light to moderate rainfall is likely at most places across all districts of the state from 3 to 8 September. Thunderstorms are also likely during this period, accompanied by the possibility of lightning at some places.
It may be recalled that intense rains have been continuing in Dehradun and also several hill districts of Uttarakhand for the past several days, causing extensive damage and disruption in both the Garhwal and Kumaon regions. A large number of roads have been blocked at various places following landslides, debris and damage caused by heavy rain. The departments concerned and the field personnel have been working continuously to reopen the affected roads and restore connectivity.
However, road restoration work has been proving particularly challenging as fresh landslides are occurring at several locations soon after blocked stretches are cleared. As a result, restoration teams are often forced to return to the same locations and undertake the work again. Despite these difficulties, personnel of the concerned departments continue to remain engaged in clearing the affected roads and restoring traffic movement.
The continuing spell of rain has also caused loss of life in different parts of the state. At least 11 persons are reported to have lost lives during the past 2 days due to landslides and water surge in the rivers. In the Kumaon division, six people have so far lost their lives in natural disasters in past 36 hours, according to Kumaon Commissioner Deepak Rawat. The situation has also remained serious in Dehradun district, where a car was swept away during heavy rain on Monday night, resulting in the deaths of a young man and a young woman.
In another tragic incident in Dehradun, the 12-year-old son of a scientist lost his life after being swept away in a swollen drain. A labourer’s son also died after falling into a canal. The incidents have once again highlighted the risks posed by swollen rivers, drains and water channels during periods of intense rainfall.
With the IMD forecasting another spell of heavy rain at isolated places from 3 to 8 September, the possibility of further disruption cannot be ruled out.
