Dehradun, Uttarakhand– Authorities in Uttarakhand are on high alert, with the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) in Dehradun advising District Magistrates across various districts to take immediate precautions due to a forecast of low to medium-level flood risk. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall, raising concerns about waterlogging and potential flood threats in the next 24 hours.
The IMD’s forecast specifically mentions the possibility of waterlogging and flood threats in parts of Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Pauri, Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag, Tehri, and Uttarkashi districts.
A letter signed by Deputy Secretary Mahavir Singh Parmar from the SEOC emphasized the need for preparedness and security. “Traffic should be controlled while maintaining preparedness and security at every level. In case of any disaster/accident, immediate on-site action should be taken, and information should be exchanged immediately. All the officers and departmental nodal officers nominated for disaster management IRS system will remain on high alert,” the letter stated.
Further intensifying the warnings, the Chamoli Police on Sunday issued an advisory urging residents to remain vigilant as the water level of the Alaknanda River continues to rise due to incessant rainfall in the region. In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the police warned people to avoid areas near the riverbanks, emphasizing, “Currently, the weather is unstable, and due to continuous rainfall, the water level of the Alaknanda River is rising rapidly. The Chamoli Police appeal to people living near the riverbank to please stay vigilant and avoid going near the river. Your safety, our priority.”
Meanwhile, the impact of heavy monsoon rains is also being felt in central India. In Madhya Pradesh, the Jogitikariya bridge on the Dindori to Jabalpur route has been submerged as the Narmada River overflows. This has caused significant disruption to traffic. A team from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has been deployed to the spot.
Satish Dwivedi, Sub-divisional Police Officer of Dindori, confirmed the situation to ANI, stating, “The Narmada River is in spate. The river is flowing over the Jogitikariya bridge. Traffic from both sides has been diverted… Adequate security arrangements have been made here. Police, Home Guard, and SDRF teams are deployed.”
It is to be noted that on Saturday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert for Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Goa, warning of extremely heavy rainfall in these regions. The current events in Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh align with the IMD’s broader warnings for intense monsoon activity across several parts of India.