Pindar, Alaknanda & Nandakini rivers in spate, threaten to flood nearby areas

Char Dham Yatra remains affected due to inclement weather

Thursday, 24 August 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN/JOSHIMATH

The water levels of the Alaknanda, Nandakini and Pindar rivers in the Chamoli district remained in spate on Wednesday following continuous heavy rain threatening to flood places located along their banks. A flood-like situation was also observed in Tharali town located on the banks of Pindar and its tributary Pranmati. The intermittent heavy rains for the last 10 days have already affected the lives of those living near the banks of these rivers. The superintendent of police of Chamoli Pramendra Dobhal said that the police of Kotwali Chamoli, Kotwali Karnprayag and Thana Tharali have been making announcements consistently in their respective areas and appealing to the locals living on the banks of Alaknanda, Nandakini and Pindar rivers to be alert and go to safe places. He said that the water level of these rivers increased significantly in the past few hours due to which, locals were asked to shift from there to safe places as a precautionary measure. The police also helped some families in the Sol Ghati area of Tharali to get shifted to safe places after the water level rose in Pindar and Pranmati. The police are also asking the public to immediately dial 112 in case of any emergency, he added. Besides this, landslides triggered by incessant rain in Chamoli continued to block several roads that also affected Char Dham Yatra. Several stretches of the Badrinath National Highway remained blocked due to landslide debris at Chhinka and Maithana. The road also remained blocked in Nandprayag, Pagal Nala and Belakuchi due to the accumulation of debris. The movement on the road near Chhinka was resumed in the evening, as per the police. The district administration also halted several pilgrims on various routes and helped them to stay at safe places considering the inclement weather. Besides this, helicopter services to Kedarnath also remained affected due to heavy rains and inclement weather for the past few days in Rudraprayag district. The authorities have appealed to pilgrims to not continue their journey amid the bad weather and to immediately contact local authorities during emergencies.