A high alert for landslides has been issued for four districts in Uttarakhand—Tehri, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli—following a heavy rainfall forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Geological Survey of India (GSI). The alert, which went into effect on July 7 and will last through July 8, warns of potential landslides in several subdivisions, including Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Ukhimath, Ghansali, Narendra Nagar, Dhanaulti, Dunda, and Chinyalisaur.
The IMD has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in these regions, significantly increasing the risk of slope failures and road blockages. The State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) has directed all district magistrates and disaster management authorities to implement strict precautionary measures. These measures include maintaining high alert across all administrative levels and ensuring a rapid response in case of any disaster.
In response to the alert, district magistrates are enforcing strict precautions and regulating vehicular movement. All nodal officers under the Incident Response System (IRS) have been instructed to remain on high alert. Arrangements for food and medical aid must be ensured for stranded individuals. Special caution is advised in educational institutions to safeguard schoolchildren. Tourist movement in high Himalayan regions is to be restricted during the warning period, and both vehicular and pedestrian travel must be halted during intense rainfall. District information officers have been instructed to disseminate this warning widely through print and visual media, urging the public to avoid unnecessary travel.
The IMD has issued warnings for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms across several states from July 7 to 12. There is a risk of flooding and landslides in hilly and riverside areas such as Himachal, Uttarakhand, and the Northeast. Heavy rainfall may cause waterlogging in large cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea in Kutch, Konkan, Goa, and the Bay of Bengal.
Uttarakhand is highly landslide-prone due to its steep terrain and frequent heavy rainfall. The state disaster management authority has asked local officials to take necessary precautions in high-risk areas to prevent loss of life and property. Natural disasters and road accidents have collectively killed 70 people in Uttarakhand in a short span of just about a month. Twenty people have so far been killed in natural disasters and 50 in road accidents across the 13 districts of the hill state since June 1, according to data released by the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC).
The Ganga river in Rishikesh is flowing just below the warning mark of 1.38 cm, following heavy rainfall. Teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local police have issued appeals to the public to stay in safe areas as continuous rainfall has led to an increase in the water levels of the river. Rescue teams have been placed on alert, and the administration is continuously patrolling the sensitive areas in Rishikesh, Muni Ki Reti and Laxman Jhula areas.
The IMD has predicted that heavy to very heavy rainfall activity is likely to continue over large parts of northwest, central, eastern, and northeastern India, as well as along the west coast, over the next six to seven days. Extremely heavy rainfall – measuring 21 cm or more – is likely at isolated locations. Citizens are advised to stay informed and take necessary precautions, as local administrations implement safety measures.
