Heavy rain alert for Garhwal, Kumaon

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 8

Uttarakhand could experience heavy rains in the days to come. The Met Department has issued an alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Chamoli, Pauri and Rudraprayag districts of Garhwal division and some isolated places in Kumaon division of the state on July 10 and 11.

Met Office Executive Director Dr Vikram Singh said July 10 and July 11 could witness heavy to very heavy rainfall in Chamoli, Pauri and Rudraprayag districts of Garhwal division and some isolated places in Kumaon divison. An alert has been issued on this regard. He said further July 9 has also been kept under watch category as heavy rainfall is likely to occur in Kumaon’s Pithoragarh, Nainital and Champawat districts. As per Met department guidelines, heavy rain means rains ranging from 64.5 to 115.5 mm whereas very heavy rain falls between 115.6 and 204.4 mm outpour.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand State Emergency Operation Centre has also issued an alert to the district magistrates of the affected districts. It has asked the senior administration officials not to switch off their mobiles and be present on their places of deployment. It has directed them to be prepared for meeting any exigencies that may arise as fall out of rains.

The rivers in the state are already under spate. The Kali, Gori and Saryu rivers of Kuma have already reached 887.85 m, 604.30 m and 446 m mark, respectively, and are close to danger mark levels. Similarly, Alaknanda, Mandakni and Pindar rivers in Chamoli district have also touched 953.40 m, 867.46 m and 768.01 m mark, respectively. The Ganges in Haridwar has reached 290.95 m mark, which is 4 m below the the danger mark.