Red Alert In Uttarakhand: IMD Warns Of Landslides And Overflowing Rivers

Srishti Singh

Dehradun, Uttrakhand, 14th August 2023: Amidst the relentless deluge in Uttarakhand, the edifice of Doon Defence College in Maldevta, Dehradun, succumbed to the force of the torrential waters and collapsed on Monday morning. The unceasing rainfall over the past 24 hours has caused the rivers to overflow across the state. Situated along the banks of the River Song, near Lalpul, the defence training academy faced this calamitous fate.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert across six districts in Uttarakhand, encompassing Dehradun and Nainital. The heavy rainfall has raised concerns about landslides in the state, possibly resulting in multiple individuals being trapped beneath the debris. The disaster control room in Uttarakhand has reported that the Rudraprayag, Shrinagar, and Devprayag areas have witnessed the Alaknanda, Mandakini, and Ganga rivers surpassing their danger levels.

The impact of the downpour has been significant along the Badrinath National Highway, where numerous stretches have been obstructed due to landslide rubble. Tragically, reports indicate that an individual near Pipalkoti has been buried beneath the debris.

The unfolding scenario has led to a flood-like crisis along the banks of multiple rivers, including Alaknanda, as well as its tributaries Pindar, Nandakini, and Birhi in the Chamoli district. A tributary of the Pindar River, Pranmati, also experienced flooding as a consequence of a landslide.

In the Pauri district’s Laxmanjhula area, heavy rains triggered a landslide. Shweta Choubey, the Senior Superintendent of Police in Pauri, conveyed that the debris descended onto a resort, entrapping four to five individuals beneath it.

Amidst this catastrophic scenario, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami convened a meeting with senior officials to assess the extent of the rain-induced situation in the state. After the meeting, the decision was made to suspend the Chardham yatra for two days.

In Rishikesh, numerous low-lying regions, including Chandreshwar Nagar and Sheesham Jhari, have been inundated due to the unrelenting downpour. The rural areas around Rishikesh are grappling with inundation, leading the State Disaster Response Force to initiate evacuations, relocating people to safer havens.