Orange Alert Issued for Five Uttarakhand Districts on October 30; Disaster Management Department on High Alert
Thunderstorms, lightning, hailstorms and gusty winds forecast; special safety measures ordered for Char Dham routes
Dehradun: The India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for five districts of Uttarakhand for October 30, warning of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, hailstorms and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40–50 kmph at isolated places. The districts covered by the alert are Nainital, Champawat, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar and Chamoli.
The weather department has also forecast the possibility of heavy rainfall at isolated places in Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Nainital and Champawat.
In view of the warning, Vinod Kumar Suman, Secretary of Disaster Management and Rehabilitation, held a review meeting with officials from the concerned districts to assess preparedness. He directed all departments and district authorities to remain on high alert and take necessary precautionary measures.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Madan Kaushik also spoke with the secretary and instructed officials to take all necessary steps to ensure public safety.
Special Vigilance on Char Dham Yatra Routes
Suman directed officials to keep disaster management arrangements fully operational and prioritise the safety of pilgrims travelling along the Char Dham routes.
He said that if weather conditions deteriorate or a potential threat emerges, pilgrims should be stopped at safe locations. Officials have been instructed to continuously monitor road and route conditions and take decisions according to the prevailing situation.
Special caution has also been advised regarding tourist movement in high Himalayan areas during adverse weather conditions to prevent accidents and other emergencies.
Departments Asked to Remain Alert in Vulnerable Areas
The secretary instructed officials to maintain heightened vigilance in vulnerable areas and ensure close coordination among all concerned departments. Designated disaster management officials and departmental nodal officers have been directed to remain alert and initiate prompt action as soon as an incident is reported.
Given the possibility of landslides, falling rocks and road blockages in mountainous regions, the Public Works Department, National Highways authorities, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and other executing agencies have been asked to keep machinery and essential resources ready.
If roads are blocked, the concerned departments must act immediately to restore connectivity and minimise inconvenience to residents, pilgrims and tourists.
Rescue Teams to Remain Ready; Public Advised to Avoid Unnecessary Travel
Suman said that relief and rescue teams must remain prepared to provide immediate assistance in the event of an emergency. He appealed to residents and visitors to take weather warnings seriously and avoid unnecessary travel during adverse weather conditions.
People have also been advised to exercise caution near rivers, streams, water channels and landslide-prone areas. Any emergency or disaster-related incident should be reported immediately to the State Emergency Operations Centre’s toll-free helpline at 1070.
The secretary reiterated that public safety remains the state government’s highest priority. All departments and district administrations have been instructed to work in close coordination to ensure a prompt and effective response to any potential disaster.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Executive Officer (Administration) Prakash Chandra, Additional Chief Executive Officer (Implementation) and DIG Rajkumar Negi, Joint Chief Executive Officer Dinesh Kumar Punetha, Mohit Mathur and other officials.
Districts Asked to Expedite Relief Proposals for Hailstorm Victims
During the meeting, Suman directed the concerned districts to submit proposals to the state government without delay to provide assistance to people affected by hailstorm damage.
He said that wherever additional funds are required, formal proposals should be submitted promptly to seek assistance from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. He also directed officials to expedite proposals seeking funds under recovery and reconstruction.
According to the secretary, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Madan Kaushik expressed displeasure over delays in submitting proposals and instructed officials to ensure that assistance reaches affected people as soon as possible.
Officials have also been asked to speed up the assessment of damaged public assets and hailstorm-related losses so that restoration and rehabilitation work can be completed within the stipulated timeframe.
Proposal Sought for Rockfall Protection Measures at Chirbasa
The meeting also reviewed the issue of falling rocks from the hillside in the Chirbasa area. Suman directed the concerned officials to prepare and submit a proposal for protective measures to safeguard pilgrims, tourists and local residents.
He specifically called for an early proposal to install protective safety netting to prevent falling rocks, enabling the government to initiate the approval process and take further action to improve safety in the area.
