Uttarakhand on High Alert as IMD Issues Red Alert for Heavy Rainfall on September 26-27
Five districts under Red Alert on September 26 and four districts on September 27; authorities directed to remain on 24×7 alert mode
Dehradun, September 25, 2026: Uttarakhand is bracing for heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next two days, with the India Meteorological Department issuing Red, Orange and Yellow alerts for different districts of the state. In view of the weather warning, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed officials to remain on 24×7 alert mode and ensure all necessary arrangements are in place to deal with any possible emergency.
Chief Minister Dhami spoke with Secretary Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Vinod Kumar Suman and directed all concerned departments and district administrations to take precautionary measures. Special attention has been directed towards districts under Red and Orange alerts, with continuous monitoring of vulnerable areas and advance preparedness for relief and rescue operations.
The Chief Minister also directed officials to keep District Emergency Operation Centres active and ensure that weather warnings are communicated immediately to the local level.
Five districts under Red Alert on September 26
According to the weather department forecast, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Champawat, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar will remain under a Red Alert on September 26.
Dehradun, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Almora have been placed under an Orange Alert, while Haridwar, Uttarkashi and Tehri Garhwal have been issued a Yellow Alert.
Four districts under Red Alert on September 27
On September 27, a Red Alert has been issued for Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal and Haridwar.
An Orange Alert has been issued for Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Nainital and Rudraprayag, while Bageshwar, Almora, Champawat, Udham Singh Nagar and Pithoragarh have been placed under a Yellow Alert.
The weather department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at several places and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated locations during this period. Authorities have been asked to remain particularly vigilant in view of the possibility of landslides, road blockages, rising water levels in rivers and streams, and waterlogging in low-lying areas.
All 13 districts directed to remain on alert
Following the Chief Minister’s directions, Secretary Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Vinod Kumar Suman held a meeting with officials from all 13 districts on Friday and reviewed preparedness for the expected weather conditions.
Officials in all districts have been directed to remain on alert and ensure adequate arrangements to respond to any emergency. Special emphasis has been placed on continuous monitoring of vulnerable locations in Red and Orange Alert districts and keeping District Emergency Operation Centres fully operational.
Continuous monitoring of rivers and landslide-prone areas
Officials have been instructed to continuously monitor water levels in rivers, streams, seasonal channels and other water sources. In case of a rise in water levels, arrangements should be made to immediately move people living nearby to safer locations.
Authorities have also been directed to maintain close watch over landslide-prone roads and areas and keep JCBs and other essential machinery positioned strategically so that blocked roads can be cleared and traffic restored at the earliest.
Coordination among emergency response departments
All District Emergency Operation Centres have been directed to remain operational round the clock. Continuous coordination has been ordered among the police, SDRF, fire services, health department, Public Works Department, drinking water, electricity and other concerned departments.
Relief and rescue teams are also being deployed in vulnerable areas wherever required, with adequate equipment and resources to be kept ready.
Special monitoring of Char Dham routes and tourist destinations
Officials have been directed to regulate traffic on mountain roads only after assessing weather and road conditions. Unnecessary travel in areas vulnerable to landslides and excessive rainfall should be avoided.
Special monitoring has also been ordered along Char Dham travel routes, major tourist destinations and other vulnerable areas to ensure the safety of pilgrims and tourists. Authorities have been asked to ensure that relief and rescue operations can be launched with minimum response time in case of an emergency.
Disaster Management Minister reviews preparedness
Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Madan Kaushik also spoke with Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman and reviewed the prevailing weather situation and preparedness across the state. He directed officials to closely monitor weather developments and remain fully prepared to deal with any eventuality.
Public advised to avoid unnecessary travel
The Disaster Management Department has appealed to the public to follow advisories issued by the weather department and district administrations. People have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from rivers, streams, seasonal channels and landslide-prone areas.
The State Emergency Operation Centre is continuously monitoring the weather situation. In case of an emergency, people can contact the State Emergency Operation Centre at toll-free number 1070, District Emergency Operation Centre at 1077, or Emergency Service 112.
