Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 1 Jul: Continuous heavy rainfall has thrown life out of gear across Uttarakhand, prompting the Meteorological Centre to issue an orange alert for very heavy to heavy rain in seven districts of the state. The relentless monsoon showers have raised the water level of the Alaknanda River in Rudraprayag district, sparking alarm among residents and devotees alike. The Meteorological Department in Dehradun has forecast very heavy rainfall in Uttarkashi, Dehradun, and Bageshwar districts, along with isolated heavy showers in other parts of the state. A lightning alert has also been issued as thunderstorms are expected to accompany the downpour.
Rivers across the state are in spate and landslides have become a recurring threat particularly in the hills, disrupting road connectivity and endangering lives. Considering the grave situation, the Disaster Management Department and the Chief Minister’s Office have urged citizens and pilgrims to remain vigilant and avoid venturing into vulnerable areas.
The Alaknanda River has risen significantly in Rudraprayag, with smaller temples and a Shiva idol submerged beneath its swollen waters. As floodwaters edged closer to residential and pilgrimage areas, concern mounted among devotees.
It may be recalled that yesterday morning, the pedestrian pilgrimage to Kedarnath had resumed under strict security supervision. By 3 p.m., as many as 7,936 pilgrims had departed from Sonprayag towards Kedarnath, and most of them had reached the temple by late evening. Simultaneously, 8,400 pilgrims were reported to have returned safely to Sonprayag after offering prayers at Kedarnath.
Earlier in the day, the state administration had temporarily halted the Char Dham Yatra in view of the inclement weather. However, Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Pandey had lifted the suspension, directing the District Magistrates to regulate the movement of pilgrims according to local weather conditions. Following this, at around 9 a.m., the movement of devotees towards Kedarnath from Sonprayag resumed under the instructions of District Magistrate Prateek Jain. Due to the active landslide zone between Shuttle Parking and Munkatiya on the Gaurikund Highway, the pilgrimage route was carefully managed by police forces escorting pilgrims across vulnerable sections.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Centre has issued an orange alert for very heavy to heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms in Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Tehri, Pauri, Rudraprayag, Nainital, and Bageshwar. A yellow alert has been issued for moderate to heavy rain and lightning in other districts. The rain is likely to persist until 6 July, with widespread showers forecast across the state.
The ongoing spell of rain has severely affected pilgrimage movement and public transport. The Char Dham Yatra continues to face disruptions, and the Gangotri route remains closed for the third consecutive day. The abrupt halt in pilgrimage has led to a noticeable decline in the number of devotees visiting the Dhams. Kedarnath Dham, usually bustling with pilgrims, now appears almost deserted. Only a handful of devotees could be seen offering prayers inside the temple, undeterred by the weather. The Meteorological Department has reiterated its warning about the continuation of rain, and pilgrims have been advised to check weather updates and road conditions before embarking on the Char Dham Yatra.
The situation is particularly dire in Gangotri and Yamunotri regions, where pilgrimage activity has remained suspended for three straight days. Massive debris caused by landslides has blocked key roads, though heavy machinery is working round-the-clock to clear the routes. Officials hope to reopen the roads for vehicular traffic by tomorrow. According to Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Kumar Arya, most of the debris clearance has been completed and the remaining portions are likely to be cleared shortly. Rescue and relief operations are being carried out continuously to trace and assist missing persons.
In Pauri Garhwal district, rainfall and landslides have resulted in the closure of 36 link roads. The Alaknanda River has touched 533 metres near Srinagar, leading to restrictions on public movement near riverbanks and streams. District Magistrate Swati Bhadauria has instructed all officials to maintain high alert. The impact of the rains has also been felt on National Highway-534, which connects Kotdwar to Najibabad. The collapse of a culvert near Zafra Bad has entirely severed road connectivity between Kotdwar and surrounding regions.
In preparation for further eventualities, Tehri Garhwal District Magistrate Nitika has imposed a restriction on all government officials and staff from leaving headquarters without prior approval. She has also sought explanations from officials whose mobile phones remained switched off during critical hours.
