Uttarakhand on high alert after Met warning

State govt has started deploying personnel from the newly-created State Disaster Response Force in places like Kedarnath

The Uttarakhand government on Tuesday issued a high alert in the state after the India Meteorological Department's forecast of heavy rains within three days, cautioning tourists and pilgrims to stay away.

Immediately after the Met department's warning of heavy rains, the state government has started deploying personnel from the newly created State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) in places like Kedarnath, the epicentre of last year's calamitous floods.

"We have deployed SDRF personnel in Kedarnath and Lambagar (Chamoli district) as a precautionary measure," Additional Director-General of Police (ADGP) R S Meena told Business Standard.

SDRF personnel have also been kept at standby in Haridwar, Meena added. The Met department had forecast heavy rains in the disaster-prone districts of Uttarakashi and Chamoli.

"Heavy rains have also been predicted in parts of the Kumaon region," the Met department said. This is the first high alert in the state after last year's deluge in which over 5,000 people were killed and thousands affected.

Incessant rains in Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarakashi districts since Sunday have disrupted the Char Dham yatra, comprising the four Hindu shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.