Before the Kanwar Yatra, the Rudraprayag administration has made extensive arrangements for security, traffic and disaster management. Travelers have been advised to remain cautious amid heavy rain.
Before the start of Kanwar Yatra, Rudraprayag district administration of Uttarakhand has come in full alert mode. The administration has intensified preparations to ensure the safe and smooth journey of lakhs of Shiva devotees. Clear instructions have been given to all concerned departments regarding security, traffic and disaster management.
Kanwar Yatra Security: Administration started extensive preparations for Kanwar Yatra
Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra reviewed the preparations with police and officials of other departments. He said that maintaining law and order during the Yatra, keeping the traffic smooth and providing every necessary facility to the devotees is the biggest priority of the administration.
He told that at present the Kedarnath Dham Yatra is being conducted in a systematic manner. However, due to bad weather and heavy rain alert in the last few days, the yatra was stopped for some time. During that time the devotees were kept at safe places and were allowed to move forward only after the situation became normal.
Vishal Mishra said that the entire area will be continuously monitored during the Kanwar Yatra. Additional police force will be deployed and the Disaster Management Control Room will monitor the situation 24 hours. A special plan is also being prepared to keep the traffic smooth.
Heavy Rain Alert: There were problems on the Kedarnath Yatra route due to rain.
The effect of continuous heavy rains in Uttarakhand this week was also seen on the Kedarnath Yatra route. Passengers faced problems due to landslides and road closure at many places. At the same time, after the water level of Sharda river increased, the administration had to take extra vigilance. Seeing the situation, the authorities issued advisories, took action to quickly open the closed routes and kept the disaster management teams fully active.
Rudraprayag Weather Update: Many roads were closed after Orange Alert
Rudraprayag Superintendent of Police Niharika Tomar said that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued an orange alert for the Kedarnath region. Due to continuous rain, roads were blocked in many areas including Sirobagarh, Banswara and Mungatiya. He said that as soon as the information was received, police, district administration and disaster management teams immediately reached the spot and started relief work. The affected routes were quickly restored and traffic resumed thereafter.
IMD Weather Advisory: Appeal to follow the advice of the Meteorological Department
Niharika Tomar said that the administration is continuously issuing necessary guidelines to the devotees and travelers on the basis of warnings from the Meteorological Department. People are being advised to stay at safe places during bad weather. Permission to travel further is being given only after the weather becomes normal and the roads are completely opened.
Banbasa Sharda Barrage: Red alert on Sharda Barrage, more than one lakh cusecs of water released
Here in Banbasa area of Champawat district also, the situation remains serious due to continuous rains. The Irrigation Department has issued a red alert for Banbasa Sharda Barrage located on the India-Nepal border. Due to continuous rains in Kumaon region, the water level of Sharda river increased rapidly. In view of security, movement of people was stopped in the border area, while movement of vehicles on the barrage was also temporarily stopped. Irrigation Department Assistant Engineer Prashant Kumar said that after heavy rains in the hilly areas, more than one lakh cusecs of water has been released from the barrage.
Uttarakhand Weather News: Administration appeals to passengers to remain alert
The administration has appealed to the local people, Kanwadis and other travelers to rely only on official information and the advisory of the Meteorological Department. Avoid traveling to sensitive areas until the weather becomes completely normal. Officials say that the safety of passengers is the top priority and the situation is being constantly monitored.