Uttarakhand CM instructs SDRF to stay vigilant amid heavy rainfall; IMD issues red alert
Sep 13, 2024
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], September 13 : Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, upon receiving information from officials, has instructed the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams and District Magistrates to stay alert due to heavy rainfall affecting various parts of Uttarakhand.
The Chief Minister has also urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel during this period.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for several southern districts and an orange alert for other areas of the state. According to the IMD, a depression currently over northwest Uttar Pradesh is expected to move north-northwest and weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area within the next 12 hours. This system, centred near Bareilly, will bring scattered to broken clouds with 'intense convection' to southern Uttarakhand and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.
'Moderate to intense convection' is also expected over the rest of north Uttarakhand, east Rajasthan, and northwest Madhya Pradesh. Rainfall and gusty winds are anticipated in these regions. The depression, monitored by weather radars in Delhi and Lucknow, has a central pressure of 994 hectopascal (hPa) and maximum sustained wind speeds of 20 knots, gusting to 30 knots.
The depression's environmental conditions, including moderate to high wind shear and significant vorticity at the 850 hPa level, suggest that it will continue to weaken as it moves northeast.
In addition to these weather warnings, continuous rain in Nainital district has led to road closures. The Haldwani-Sitarganj road is currently closed due to excessive water flow in the Shernala area. Local residents, travellers, and drivers are advised to use alternative routes and only travel when conditions improve.
Also, IMD had earlier forecasted normal weather in Madhya Pradesh for the next two days. B.S. Yadav, Meteorologist at IMD Bhopal, explained that a system previously active in the state has moved to South West Uttar Pradesh, causing a decrease in rainfall, though sporadic showers may continue. "The effect will weaken within around six hours, leading to reduced rainfall activities," Yadav said.
Damoh recorded the highest rainfall of 27 mm in the past 24 hours. A low-pressure system forming in the Bay of Bengal is expected to bring heavy rain back to eastern Madhya Pradesh after September 15. A yellow alert is in effect for Gwalior Chambal division, specifically Bhind, Morena, and Gwalior. Shivpur Kala has seen 103 percent more rainfall than normal, and Bhopal received 50 percent more.
