Uttarakhand rains: Alaknanda, Mandakini breach danger mark; schools shut in 3 districts

Persistent rainfall in Uttarakhand caused the major rivers Alaknanda, Mandakini and Bhagirathi to reach warning and danger levels on Thursday. Authorities responded by suspending schools in three districts and issuing public safety advisories. The Alaknanda River at Rudraprayag was at its danger level of 627 meters, while the Mandakini River reached 626.20 meters, exceeding its danger mark by 0.20 meters.

The Bhagirathi River at Devprayag was at the warning level of 462 meters with rising water. The Raisi (Banganga) River in Haridwar also approached its warning level. Officials were instructed to prepare for emergencies and alert residents to move to safer locations if necessary. Flooded roads included the Badrinath National Highway in Chamoli and the Gangotri National Highway in Uttarkashi, while several stretches of the Yamunotri National Highway were closed due to landslides.

A total of 1.8 million people were affected by the disrupted road connectivity. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reviewed the situation, and the IMD issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in Dehradun, Chamoli and Bageshwar districts, with a yellow alert for the rest of Uttarakhand. Schools up to Class 12 were closed in Dehradun, Chamoli and Bageshwar districts due to the weather warning.