The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Uttarakhand, warning of heavy showers on July 7. In response, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has instructed the District Magistrates of all affected districts to remain vigilant. The IMD predicts heavy to very heavy rainfall in nine districts of the state.
The CM also directed Secretary Disaster Management and Rehabilitation, Vinod Kumar Suman, and other officials of the Disaster Management Department to monitor all districts from the State Emergency Operations Center of USDMA. The IMD forecasts a high likelihood of heavy (64.5-115.5 millimeters) to very heavy rainfall (115.5-204.4 millimeters), along with extremely heavy rainfall (>204.4 millimeters) in Uttarakhand on July 6 and 7.
The Char Dham Yatra has been postponed for July 7 due to the anticipated heavy rainfall over the Garhwal division, reported ANI. Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey has restricted vehicular movement on the Badrinath National Highway in Chamoli district due to debris accumulation at five locations. Chamoli Police, Uttarakhand, confirmed the highway blockage on X, citing debris near Bhanerpani, old Nagar Panchayat Pipalkoti, Kanchen Ganga, Chhinka Paagalnala, and Helang in Chamoli district.
Besides the red alert in Uttarakhand, the IMD issued an orange warning indicating the possibility of heavy rains in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh. On Saturday, IMD Scientist Ramashray Yadav stated that Gujarat will experience light to moderate rain for the next seven days. The weather agency has forecasted widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in East and Northeast India until July 11. Heavy showers are expected to lash Kerala until July 9.
The IMD’s press release dated July 6 predicts isolated heavy rainfall over Konkan and Goa (July 7-10), Madhya Maharashtra (July 8-10), Marathwada (July 8), Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam, Rayalaseema (July 6 & 7), Telangana (July 8 & 9), Coastal Karnataka (July 10), North Interior Karnataka (July 9), and South Interior Karnataka (July 8 & 9).
Significantly, heavy rainfall in the first week of July across large parts of India has compensated for the 11 percent deficit in June, pushing the total monsoon precipitation into surplus territory, reported PTI.
