Uttarakhand, like many other north Indian states, is witnessing heavy rainfall leading to landslides and waterlogging in different regions. The downpour has forced the closing of Badrinath National Highway near Chhinka and NH-9 in the Kumaon division at Champawat. Massive rainfall has affected the pilgrims including those undertaking Kanwar yatra in the hill state. While talking to the news agency ANI, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said that officials of the Disaster Management Authority and other departments have been asked to stay on alert for any kind of emergency situation.
He also appealed to the pilgrims to continue their journey only after taking stock of the weather situation properly. Dhami added that officials have also been instructed to keep their mobile and other communication channels open so that emergency situations can be handled in a timely manner.
"Disaster Management Authority and all state officials have been asked to remain alert in view of heavy rainfall alert for the state. All pilgrims should proceed on their yatra keeping the weather conditions in mind," CM told ANI.
Notably, amid the heavy rainfall, IMD issued a red alert for the state of Uttarakhand on Sunday.
The Badrinath national highway was earlier opened after it was closed for over 17 hours on June 30 due to landslide due to a landslide triggered by heavy rain in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district. Hundreds of pilgrims had to spend the night in their vehicles because the national highway was blocked. The road was blocked around 10 am on Thursday and was reopened at 3.30 am on Friday, the additional information officer of Chamoli, Ravindra Negi said, as per news agency PTI.
ALSO READ | Himachal Rain: Portion Of NH-3 Washed Away As Beas In Spate Amid Flash Floods, Landslides — Updates