According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, rain is expected to increase in Uttarakhand from Sunday (22nd June) onwards which could affect the Char Dham Yatra going on in the state.
A trough of low extending from the Bay of Bengal to Punjab across Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana would shift to the foothills of Himalayas in Uttarakhand thus bringing in moist winds which will collide with the hills to give rain in the state.
However, weathermen at Skymet Meteorology Division in India are yet to ascertain the amount of rain that could occur but they are of the view that rain would not be as heavy as in 2013, which lead to massive destruction in Kedarnath and Badrinath, killing more than five thousand people including pilgrims.
Uttarakhand received heavy to very heavy rain last year due to a strong Western Disturbance that reached the state earlier than expected. But this time as there is no such weather system expected, most areas will receive only good amounts of rain. However, one needs to be carefull as rain could lead to landslides, hampering the Char Dham Yatra
The Government of India and the state government of Uttarakhand are keeping a close eye on the weather of Uttarakhand which was evident during a meeting convened on Tuesday by Union home minister Rajnath Singh to review the progress of restoration work in the state following the 2013 disaster.
According to media reports, the meeting was attended by senior officials of Uttarakhand government, NDMA, Planning Commission, Border Roads Organisation, India Meteorological Department, ministry of road transport and highways and NDRF. In the meeting it was decided that the Central Water Commission should share hydrological reports and warnings for Uttarakhand with the state government on a daily basis.
The steps that would be taken to avert such disasters would consists of Weather bulletins that will be issued three days in advance for 14 flood-prone locations across Uttarakhand starting June 20.
Not only this, the Uttarakhand government, as part of its efforts to avert a repeat of last year's 'Himalayan tsunami', has advised department of space to check the possible formation of artificial dam or lake in the higher reaches through satellite imagery and sound timely alerts.
