Heavy Rainfall Disrupts Uttarakhand Life, 132 Roads Closed Due to Landslides

Several parts of Uttarakhand remained on high alert on Thursday as incessant rainfall triggered rising water levels in major rivers, while 132 roads, including four national highways, were blocked due to landslides and debris, officials said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Dehradun, Chamoli and Bageshwar districts, warning of heavy rainfall, while a yellow alert remained in place for other parts of the state. District administrations stepped up preparedness measures, and schools up to Class 12 were closed in the three affected districts as a precaution.

Several areas witnessed heavy to very heavy rainfall, with Khanpur recording the highest rainfall at 127 mm since 8.30 am. Laksar in Chakrata received 79.5 mm, while Chinyalisaur and New Tehri recorded 50.5 mm each. Other areas, including Ranikhet, Naugaon, Jolly Grant, Mussoorie and Dehradun, also witnessed significant showers.

The continuous downpour caused major rivers to swell, with some crossing or nearing warning levels. The Alaknanda River in Rudraprayag reached the danger mark of 627 metres in the morning before receding slightly later in the day. The Mandakini River also crossed its danger level, flowing 20 cm above the mark before its water level gradually declined.

In Haridwar, the Ganga River remained at the warning level, while the Kali and Gori rivers in Pithoragarh approached warning levels. At Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh, the Ganga was recorded 40 cm above the warning mark, prompting authorities to issue alerts for people living near riverbanks.

Road connectivity was severely affected as landslides and rockfalls disrupted traffic across the state. The Yamunotri National Highway remained blocked near Durbil in Uttarkashi due to continuous rockfall, while the Rishikesh-Kedarnath National Highway was closed at locations in Rudraprayag following landslides.

Authorities have directed officials to maintain strict vigilance and accelerate restoration work on affected routes. The IMD has forecast heavy rain at isolated places in Uttarkashi, Tehri, Dehradun and Bageshwar districts on Friday, keeping district administrations on alert.