DEHRADUN: Continuous rainfall in Uttarakhand has resulted in major rivers, including the Ganga, swelling to near-dangerous levels in Rishikesh and Haridwar, placing the two towns on the brink of flooding. As a result, the administration has issued an high alert, and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami personally monitored the State Disaster Control Room.
Water levels in significant rivers like the Ganga, Alaknanda, Mandakini, and Bhagirathi in the Garhwal region are steadily rising. By 6 pm on Wednesday, the Ganga had reached 338.68 metres in Rishikesh, just below the danger mark of 340.5 metres. In Haridwar, the water level of the Ganga was higher than 293 metres, nearing the danger mark of 294 metres.
In response, the administration has instructed residents living close to the banks of the Ganga to evacuate their homes and move to safer locations. The district administration of Dehradun warned residents of Rishikesh on Tuesday night to stay away from riverside areas. Residents living near the river were urged to leave their dwellings and seek safety as the water levels of the Ganga and its tributary, Chandrabhaga, continue to rise.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has appealed to the people of Uttarakhand, particularly Chardham pilgrims, to refrain from unnecessary travel until the rainfall subsides. Dhami himself is actively monitoring road conditions and rainfall in all districts from the State Disaster Control Room. District administrations and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been placed on high alert throughout the state.
Additionally, the water level of the Alaknanda river in Rudraprayag has surpassed 623 metres, just above the danger level of 627 metres. The Mandakini river's water level stands at 622 metres, slightly below the danger level of 626 metres.
Due to the adverse weather conditions and heavy rain predicted for the next four days, routine public life in the state has been significantly disrupted. As a result, the 24th Central Zonal Council Meet, scheduled for July 15 in Rishikesh's Narendra Nagar hill town, has been cancelled. Chief Minister Dhami explained that the cancellation was due to bad weather and the anticipated heavy rainfall. The Central Zonal Council Meet, which was to be chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah, was expected to be attended by the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand.
