After a dry spell lasting nearly a week, the monsoon has become active again in Uttarakhand. On Friday, a shift in weather patterns was observed from the hills to the plains; the sky remained partly cloudy, and light showers occurred in several areas. A drop in temperature accompanied this change in weather.
Snowfall at Hemkund Sahib and Valley of Flowers
The weather remained unsettled on Saturday as well. While lower-lying areas received rain, high-altitude regions experienced snowfall, causing temperatures to plummet. Snow fell on the high peaks of Chamoli district, including the summits of Badrinath Dham, Hemkund Sahib, and the Valley of Flowers. The road to Mana Pass was blanketed in snow beyond Ghastoli. The Meteorological Department has issued warnings for heavy to very heavy—and in some places, extremely heavy—rainfall across several districts of the state for Saturday and Sunday.
According to the Meteorological Department, there is a high probability of heavy to very heavy rainfall—with isolated instances of extremely heavy rain—in parts of Bageshwar, Nainital, Pithoragarh, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar districts on Saturday; a ‘Red Alert’ has been issued for these areas. Meanwhile, an ‘Orange Alert’ is in effect for Dehradun, Pauri, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, and Almora, where heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in some locations.
‘Red Alert’ Issued
The department also forecasts thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds across 10 districts, including Dehradun, on Saturday.
Weather activity is expected to intensify further on Sunday. A ‘Red Alert’ has been issued for Dehradun, Tehri, Haridwar, and Pauri districts due to the likelihood of heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated pockets likely to receive extremely heavy downpours. Additionally, an ‘Orange Alert’ for heavy to very heavy rainfall has been issued for Nainital, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, and Rudraprayag. Weather shift caused by a low-pressure area.
The formation of a low-pressure area and its rapid movement towards the northwest is cited as the reason for this change in weather. With the monsoon becoming active just prior to its withdrawal, rainfall is expected to intensify across the state over the next two days. Caution is advised—particularly in mountainous regions—regarding potential localized landslides, road blockages, and other weather-related hazards caused by heavy rain.
Government on alert; CM Dhami directs officials to take all necessary measures.
Dehradun: The state government has gone on alert following forecasts of heavy rainfall for Saturday and Sunday. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has instructed District Magistrates (DMs) and relevant departments to take all precautionary measures.
He emphasized the need for heightened vigilance in districts under ‘Red’ and ‘Orange’ alerts and continuous monitoring of vulnerable areas. He also directed that necessary arrangements for relief and rescue operations be finalized in advance to tackle any potential disaster. Furthermore, he ordered that District Emergency Operation Centers remain active and ensure the immediate dissemination of weather warnings to the local level. In line with the Chief Minister’s directives, the administration has instructed all districts to remain on high alert.
Monsoon leaves 2,034 scars on roads; repairs to cost ₹135 crore.
The monsoon has damaged 658 roads across Uttarakhand at 2,034 locations, causing financial damage amounting to ₹135.07 crore. Tehri recorded the highest number of damaged spots at 503, resulting in a loss of ₹29.82 crore; meanwhile, Chamoli saw damage at 268 locations (₹24.01 crore), and Pauri at 462 locations (₹21.93 crore). These three districts account for approximately 56 percent of the total damage sustained by the state. The monsoon did not merely damage roads; it also caused destruction to seven motorable bridges, two other bridges, and three buildings. The Thatyur area of the Tehri division was the worst affected, with damage recorded at 152 locations.
**Chief Minister Sets a Deadline**
The Chief Minister has set a deadline of October 15 to make the state’s roads pothole-free. Consequently, the Public Works Department (PWD) faces the challenge of timely repairing rain-induced potholes and damaged roads, as well as ensuring permanent restoration.
“Surprise inspections of road conditions will be conducted anytime after October 15. Officials have been instructed to accelerate the repair of monsoon-damaged roads and ensure they are pothole-free within the stipulated timeframe. If any negligence is found during the inspections, the concerned officials will be held accountable.” – Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister
