In the wake of continuous and torrential rainfall, the water levels of Uttarakhand’s major rivers have risen to dangerous levels, prompting the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) in Dehradun to issue a high-alert. On Friday, the SEOC advised District Magistrates across the state to implement immediate precautions to avert any potential tragedies.
The advisory comes as multiple districts report alarming rises in river levels. Earlier in the day, police in Chamoli and Rudraprayag issued urgent warnings to residents living along riverbanks, urging them to evacuate to safer locations.
In Chamoli, police have proactively alerted the public that rivers have reached critical heights. “Your vigilance is your safety,” a statement from the Chamoli police emphasized, urging residents to move swiftly and responsibly away from the danger zones.
Similarly, in Rudraprayag, the confluence of the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers has seen a significant increase in water levels. Police and administrative teams are on the ground, actively informing the public and ensuring they steer clear of the riverbanks to avoid flood-related dangers. “Due to continuous rainfall, the water levels of the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers have risen significantly,” Rudraprayag Police reported. “The Rudraprayag Police and administration teams are informing the general public to avoid going near the riverbanks and to move to safe locations.”
Relief and rescue operations are already underway in some of the hardest-hit areas. In the Mopata landslide area of Dewal, Chamoli district, locals are leading relief efforts, while a DDRF team and the Tehsildar are working to clear blocked roads. Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari confirmed the ongoing efforts to an ANI correspondent.
Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, has been closely monitoring the situation. In a meeting at his official residence, he instructed senior officials, including the disaster secretary and district magistrates, to oversee relief and rescue operations on a “war footing.” The Chief Minister’s directives follow reports of cloudbursts in the Bareth Dungar Tok area of Rudraprayag and the Deval area of Chamoli, which have trapped several families due to debris flow.
“A distressing report has been received that due to cloudbursts… some families have been trapped due to debris flow,” CM Dhami wrote in a post on X. He assured the public that rescue operations are in full swing and that he is in constant contact with officials to ensure the effective conduct of these critical missions. The state remains on high alert as the heavy rains are expected to continue, with authorities urging citizens to heed all safety advisories.