Rivers in spate, 132 roads blocked as heavy rain batters Uttarakhand

Relentless monsoon showers unleashed nature's fury across Uttarakhand on Thursday, sending several major rivers — including the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi — swelling dangerously, while landslides and falling debris brought road networks across the hill state to a standstill.

As rain clouds continued to blanket the region, 132 roads, including four national highways, were blocked at multiple locations, officials said. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) sounded an orange alert for heavy rainfall in Dehradun, Chamoli and Bageshwar districts, while a yellow alert remained in place for the rest of the state.

With the weather showing little sign of easing, district administrations moved into precautionary mode. Schools up to Class 12 in Dehradun, Bageshwar and Chamoli were shut as authorities prioritised the safety of students amid the worsening conditions.

Several pockets of Uttarakhand witnessed intense spells of rain. Khanpur recorded the highest rainfall at 127 mm since 8.30 am, followed by Laksar in Chakrata at 79.5 mm. Chinyalisaur and New Tehri received 50.5 mm each, while Ranikhet, Naugaon, Jolly Grant, Mussoorie and Dehradun also recorded significant rainfall.

The incessant downpour transformed the state's rivers into surging currents, with water levels touching or crossing warning thresholds at several locations.

In Rudraprayag, the Alaknanda river hovered around the danger mark, flowing at 627 metres in the morning before easing slightly to 626.98 metres by afternoon. The Mandakini river also crossed its danger level, rising to 626.20 metres in the morning—20 cm above the danger mark—before gradually receding.

The Ganga continued to run high in Haridwar and Rishikesh. While it flowed at the warning level of 293 metres in Haridwar, the river at Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh stood at 339.90 metres by evening, around 40 cm above the warning mark. In Pithoragarh, the Kali and Gori rivers also remained close to warning levels.

Authorities have urged residents living near riverbanks to remain cautious, with officials instructed to maintain constant surveillance and use public announcements to alert vulnerable communities.

Meanwhile, the mountain roads bore the brunt of the heavy rains. The Yamunotri National Highway near Durbil in Uttarkashi was blocked due to continuous rockfall and debris, while the Rishikesh-Kedarnath National Highway was shut near Tilwara and Saandar in Rudraprayag following landslides.

Restoration teams have been deployed to clear debris and reopen affected routes, officials said.

The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Friday, warning of heavy rainfall at isolated places in Uttarkashi, Tehri, Dehradun and Bageshwar districts. With the hills still under the grip of the monsoon assault, authorities remain on high alert to respond to any emerging emergency.

With PTI inputs