Uttarakhand hills witness continuous rain, heavy snowfall; orange alert issued

Continuous rainfall across Uttarakhand since Thursday night has led to a sharp drop in temperatures and triggered heavy snowfall in several high-altitude regions, including Gangotri, Badrinath, Kedarnath and Chakrata, on Friday.

According to the Meteorological Department, the current spell of rain and snowfall is expected to continue over the next 24 hours, while overall inclement weather conditions may persist till March 26.

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Several high-altitude areas above 3,000 metres have been witnessing continuous snowfall since Friday morning due to ongoing rains, resulting in a significant dip in temperatures.

Regions such as Chakrata in Dehradun district, Gangotri and Harsil in Uttarkashi, Badrinath and Auli in Chamoli, and the Kedarnath valley in Rudraprayag district have reported persistent snowfall.

Snow accumulation exceeding three feet has been reported in many of these areas, including along key highways.

Traffic movement has been disrupted at Sukki Top due to heavy snowfall in the Harsil Valley and along the Gangotri Highway, leaving nearly seven villages in Harsil, Gangotri and border areas adjoining China temporarily cut off from the Uttarkashi district headquarters.

Officials from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) stated that road-clearing operations can begin only after the snowfall subsides.

The Badrinath shrine area has also witnessed severe weather, with over two feet of snow accumulation. The state’s premier skiing destination, Auli, has been experiencing heavy snowfall since Friday morning.

In the Kedarnath temple area, snow accumulation between three and four metres has been reported.

The day-long snowfall in high-altitude regions has led to a noticeable drop in temperatures in lower areas, including Dehradun, where temperatures hovered around 14°C.

Meanwhile, the Dehradun-based regional office of the India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for several districts, warning of heavy rainfall and continued snowfall in hilly regions over the next 24 hours.

“Weather conditions over the past 24 hours have behaved as expected and are likely to continue for the next 24 hours,” said Vikram Singh Tomar, regional head of the Meteorological Department. He added that wind speeds are expected to range between 50 and 60 kmph.

An orange alert has been issued for districts including Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh across the Kumaon and Garhwal regions, particularly in areas above 3,000 metres.

Apart from snowfall in the hills, heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds are expected across the plains of the state, which may experience intense weather conditions.

The current spell of rain and snowfall is likely to subside after March 21. However, another western disturbance is expected to affect the region around March 26, officials said.