Public advised to remain alert, avoid unnecessary travel
PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
With a red alert being issued for heavy rain on Sunday and Monday, the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) has issued a letter to all district magistrates, directing them to ensure all necessary precautionary measures while appealing to the public to remain alert and avoid unnecessary travel.
The State Meteorological Centre has issued a red alert for heavy to very heavy rain likely to occur at a few places with extremely heavy rain at isolated places in Nainital, Champawat and Udham Singh Nagar districts on Sunday. An orange alert has been issued for heavy to very heavy rain likely to occur at isolated places in Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Haridwar and Bageshwar districts. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and very intense to extremely intense spells of rain are likely to occur at isolated places in Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Haridwar, Nainital, Champawat, Udham Singh Nagar and Bageshwar districts. The centre has also issued a yellow warning for heavy rain likely to occur at isolated places in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh, Almora and Chamoli districts. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and intense to very intense spells of rain are likely to occur at isolated places in the remaining districts today.
Dehradun is forecast to witness a partly to generally cloudy sky. Few spells of light to moderate rain/ thundershowers are likely to occur, of which one or two spells may be heavy in some areas. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be about 31 degrees Celsius and 23 degrees Celsius respectively.
Meanwhile, in its letter to the DMs the SEOC stated that necessary precautions, alertness, constant monitoring of vulnerable areas and keeping rescue and relief teams should be ensured considering the weather alerts for the period between July 18 and 22.
Disaster Management and Rehabilitation secretary Vinod Kumar Suman informed that all DMs have been directed to ensure special vigilance in all vulnerable areas, ensure 24×7 operation of the district disaster operation centre, keep the rescue and relief teams ready and ensure the availability of heavy machinery and other equipment in landslide prone areas.Suman also appeals to the public including Char Dham pilgrims and tourists to take serious cognisance of weather warnings issued by the India Meteorological Department and avoid unnecessary travel.
