Heavy rain alert sounded in Uttarakhand

The Indian Meteorological Department (MET) has sounded a high alert in Uttarakhand following the prediction of heavy rainfall in the coming two days.

MET has said that several parts of the region might receive incessant rainfalls on July 16 and July 17 and asked the authorities to beef up the vigil.

"We will not allow any vehicle movement from 8 in the evening (1430 GMT) to 5 in the morning (2330 GMT), and we have sensitised people who have gone towards the pilgrimage place. On July 16 and July 17 everyone should be on high alert. Moreover, heavy vehicles are being prohibited to go further for these two days. We have also identified the sensitive pockets and alerted the public. We have identified the location of camps where base can be shifted," said District Magistrate C. Ravi Shankar.

The officials are being particularly cautious in wake of last year's flash floods that devastated the entire region and killed almost 6,000 people, including many pilgrims visiting Kedarnath and Badrinath.

"From the afternoon of July 16 till the next 48 hours, weather department has predicted heavy rains, especially in south of Kumaon region of the province like Udham Singh Nagar, Champawan and Nainital. We have alerted people as a precaution," said Director of Disaster Mitigation and Management Centre, Piyush Rotela.

The hilly terrain witnessed minor landslides on July 14 and pilgrims were left stranded with the traffic being halted on several arterial roads.

Last year after the floods, two million people, one-fifth of region's population, have had their lives disrupted by the devastation.