Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 18 Aug: Uttarakhand is bracing itself for extremely trying weather conditions, with the Meteorological Department forecasting heavy rainfall in several regions over the coming week, a development that threatens to disrupt the proceedings of the Assembly session scheduled in Gairsain from tomorrow.
The Assembly session, set to begin tomorrow is expected to last till Friday. Earlier there was some speculation that the government may shift the monsoon session to Dehradun in view of the inclement weather, but this has not happened. However, heavy rainfall has been predicted by IMD’s Dehradun Centre in district Chamoli over the next 48 hours and a rain alert has been sounded in the district.
The Meteorological Department’s latest forecast bulletin has heightened concerns for the state’s administration, predicting that certain parts of Chamoli district are likely to face heavy downpours in the next five days. In fact, heavy rain warning has been issued for tomorrow in case of 6 districts including Chamoli. Despite the speculation in some quarters that the session might be postponed in view of continuous rainfall and multiple road blockades in the hills, the Dhami government has chosen to proceed with the Assembly session in Gairsain, making the upcoming week especially critical as far as weather-related challenges are concerned.
According to the IMD’s Mausam Vigyan Kendra, Dehradun, 6 districts, namely Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri Garhwal, Pithoragarh, Nainital, and Bageshwar are likely to receive heavy rainfall in the coming 24 to 48 hours, with other districts likely to receive light to moderate rain. The number of districts likely to be placed on heavy rain alert is expected to grow after this period. From Wednesday onward, the risk extends to Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli, all of which will also be closely monitored due to the threat of heavy showers. The weather pattern is expected to be particularly volatile in the Kumaon region, with forecasts suggesting more intense rainfall during the week.
Director of the Uttarakhand Meteorological Centre, CS Tomar, has stated that the atmospheric system points firmly towards heavy downpours in several areas over the next week, and while light to moderate rain is expected in most parts, some places may get severely affected. As a result of the continued heavy rain, water levels in natural springs and rivers across the state have risen appreciably, further escalating concerns, particularly in the hill districts where the situation may prove even more precarious due to geographical vulnerabilities. This poses a serious challenge both for the government’s legislative schedule and for the safety of residents in the state.
