Uttarakhand: Heavy Monsoon Rain Blocks 60 Roads, Orange Alert Issued

Continuous rainfall has significantly affected Uttarakhand, with over 60 roads blocked by debris and boulders. Authorities are working to clear them, but ongoing landslides caused by incessant rain are leading to repeated blockages.

The India Meteorological Department's Uttarakhand centre has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain in five districts for the next 24 hours.

Rain on Wednesday disrupted normal life in several parts of the state, including Dehradun and Bageshwar. Several roads in Dehradun were submerged due to waterlogging. Although the monsoon arrived in Uttarakhand only 48 hours ago, its impact is already evident.

Debris blocked the road towards Maldevta in Dehradun for an extended period. The route from Dehradun to the Song River dam also remained closed for hours due to large boulders and debris falling on the road.

In the last 24 hours, Dehradun recorded 65 mm of rain, Mussoorie 52 mm, Garud in Bageshwar 68 mm, Champawat 61 mm, Banbasa 61 mm, Narendra Nagar 34 mm, and Someshwar 36 mm.

In Rudraprayag, continuous heavy rain has caused the water level in the Alaknanda River to rise. A large statue of Lord Shiva located below the Belni bridge is now submerged up to its chest in the swollen river. The statue is normally fully visible. This sight has drawn both curiosity and concern from locals.

In response to the rising river levels, the district administration is on high alert. Teams from disaster management, police, and revenue departments are continuously monitoring sensitive areas. Officials have advised people living near the river to remain cautious. All departments have been alerted to handle any emergency.

The Badrinath National Highway has been blocked again due to heavy debris and stones falling from the hillside at the Sirobgad slide zone between Srinagar and Rudraprayag.

Continuous landslides have halted traffic completely, causing long vehicle queues on both sides.

The Sirobgad slide zone, a notorious landslide-prone area, has been the biggest trouble spot on the national highway for nearly three decades. Every monsoon, this stretch poses a serious challenge for Char Dham Yatra pilgrims, locals, and essential supplies. Despite spending crores of rupees, a permanent solution to the slide zone has not been found.

The IMD Uttarakhand centre has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain in Dehradun, Bageshwar, Nainital, Pauri, and Tehri for the next 24 hours. Following the alert, the State Disaster Management Department has issued an advisory for all districts.