Officials Directed to Remain on 24×7 Alert Mode as Uttarakhand Braces for Heavy Rainfall
Chief Minister Dhami reviews monsoon preparedness; Secretary Disaster Management orders intensified monitoring, prioritises reopening of rural roads and safety of Char Dham pilgrims
Dehradun, July 9, 2026: In view of continuous rainfall across Uttarakhand and the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) forecast of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall over the coming days, the State Government has placed its disaster management machinery on high alert. Acting on the directions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Secretary, Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Vinod Kumar Suman reviewed the rain-related situation across the state from the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) and directed all departments to remain on 24×7 alert mode.
The Chief Minister emphasized that safeguarding human life must remain the government’s highest priority. He instructed officials to ensure seamless coordination among all departments and be fully prepared to respond swiftly to any emergency or disaster situation.
IMD Issues Red and Orange Alerts for Several Districts
During the review meeting, Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman informed that the IMD has issued a Red Alert for Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar, and Champawat districts for July 10, while Orange Alerts have been issued for Dehradun, Pauri Garhwal, and Bageshwar districts.
In light of the forecast, District Magistrates, Police, SDRF, Public Works Department (PWD), Drinking Water, Power, Health, and all other concerned departments have been instructed to maintain maximum preparedness and ensure immediate response in case of any emergency.
Special Focus on Char Dham Yatra Safety
The Chief Minister issued specific instructions regarding the ongoing Char Dham Yatra, directing authorities to halt pilgrims at designated holding points whenever weather conditions become hazardous or travel routes unsafe due to heavy rainfall.
Officials have been instructed to ensure adequate facilities at all holding points, including:
- Food and safe drinking water
- Essential medicines and medical assistance
- Milk for children
- Clean toilets and sanitation facilities
- Temporary accommodation and resting arrangements
- Other basic amenities for pilgrims
The Chief Minister further directed that pilgrims should be allowed to proceed only after weather conditions improve and routes are officially declared safe.
Continuous Monitoring of Rivers and Landslide-Prone Areas
Secretary Suman instructed officials to maintain round-the-clock monitoring of rivers, seasonal streams, hill torrents, and landslide-prone zones. The safety of residents living near vulnerable areas has been accorded top priority.
If any area is assessed to be at risk, authorities have been directed to immediately relocate affected families to safer locations.
He also instructed departments to ensure the safety of workers engaged at construction sites and suspend ongoing construction activities wherever necessary until weather conditions improve.
Priority to Restoration of Rural Roads
The review meeting also assessed the status of rain-affected roads, drinking water supply, electricity, and other essential public services across the state.
The Secretary directed officials to restore all roads blocked due to landslides or heavy rainfall on a priority basis to minimize inconvenience to the public.
He particularly stressed that rural roads should be reopened on a war footing, as disruption of connectivity in remote villages directly impacts access to healthcare, emergency services, relief materials, and essential supplies.
Officials have also been instructed to deploy JCBs, excavators, heavy machinery, and adequate manpower in advance at vulnerable locations to ensure rapid clearance operations whenever required.
Departments Asked to Ensure Seamless Coordination
Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman directed all departments to maintain close coordination and immediately report any incident to the State Emergency Operations Centre so that relief and rescue operations can be launched without delay.
Public Advised to Remain Vigilant
Appealing to the people of Uttarakhand, the Secretary urged citizens to strictly follow weather advisories issued by the IMD and the State Government.
He advised the public to:
- Avoid unnecessary travel, especially in hilly and landslide-prone regions.
- Stay away from rivers, streams, waterlogged areas, and flood-prone locations.
- Remain indoors or at safe places during periods of intense rainfall.
- Immediately contact local authorities or emergency services in case of any emergency.
- Rely only on official information issued by the Government and avoid believing or spreading rumours.
Officials Present
The review meeting was attended by Additional Chief Executive Officer (Administration) Prakash Chandra, Additional Chief Executive Officer (Implementation) DIG Rajkumar Negi, Joint Chief Executive Officer Dinesh Kumar Punetha, along with senior officials of the Disaster Management Department.
