By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 23 Jul: According to the weather forecast issued today, the next few days are expected to be highly sensitive for Uttarakhand, particularly for the Char Dham Yatra. The Meteorological Department has issued a heavy rain alert for several districts including Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag and Chamoli which are directly linked with Char Dham Yatra. With the Char Dham Yatra currently at its peak and thousands of devotees arriving from across the country, the warning raises concern for the safety of the pilgrims. The department has cautioned that rainfall activity will intensify from 23 July, with heavy showers likely on 25 and 26 July, increasing the risk of landslides along the mountainous routes.
Meteorologist Rohit Thapliyal shared with media persons today that the rainfall will begin to intensify from today onwards, become more intense on 24 July and may result in heavy downpours across multiple districts on 25 and 26 July. Besides the Char Dham districts, heavy rain has also been forecast for Dehradun in Garhwal and for Pithoragarh, Bageshwar and Nainital in Kumaon. The fragile terrain of these regions, with many landslide-prone zones, poses a serious challenge as even moderate rain often disrupts movement, while heavy rain significantly raises the risk of debris and boulders falling onto roads.
The administration and disaster management department have been placed on alert. The authorities now face the task of strengthening surveillance on sensitive routes, ensuring the availability of JCBs and machinery at landslide zones and taking decisions on the conduct of the yatra based on real-time weather conditions. With the possibility of road blockage and traffic disruptions, the officials have stressed the need for extra vigilance to safeguard pilgrims.
The Char Dham Yatra this week is expected to be particularly vulnerable and the devotees have been advised to follow the advisories issued by the Meteorological Department and the administration while planning their journey. It has also been emphasised that in the hills, weather conditions can change within minutes during heavy rain, making caution and preparedness essential for both the pilgrims and the officials.
