Heavy rain feared, alert sounded in Uttarakhand

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 5

With the State Meteorological Centre forecasting moderate to heavy rain in next 72 hours, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has directed the District Magistrates of Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Almora, Pithoragarh, Champawat, Rudraprayag, and Pauri to remain alert to deal with any natural calamity.

The officials have been directed to deploy additional State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and police personnel in the disaster-prone areas of the state. Rawat also instructed them to make zones and sectors in their respective districts to ensure speedy rescue work. He warned the officials of a strict action in case of laxity.

The Chief Minister also instructed the officials to keep JCBs and bulldozers ready at landslide and mudslide-prone areas of the state. He told them to take swift action to reopen blocked routes in the mountainous areas and ensure that no vehicular movement took place at night in those areas.

Rawat instructed the Chamoli District Magistrate to camp at Joshimath to monitor the Char Dham Yatra. He directed the district administration to regularly monitor the flow of the rivers to act swiftly in case of flood.

Additional Chief Secretaries Rakesh Sharma and S Raju, Secretary Anandvardhan, Garhwal Commissioner CS Napalchayal, and Secretary R Meenakshi Sundaram were present during the meeting.