Avalanche Threat In Uttarakhand After Fresh Snowfall, Uttarkashi And Rudraprayag Among 5 Hill Districts On High Alert - Details

Dehradun:

Five hill districts across Uttarakhand have been placed on high alert after fresh snowfall in the higher Himalayan regions. While the upper reaches received snow, the foothills, including capital Dehradun, saw intermittent rain through Sunday, leading authorities to step up monitoring of weather-sensitive and avalanche-prone areas across the state.

Five Uttarakhand Districts Placed On Avalanche Alert

Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Rudraprayag have been marked under Danger Level-2, indicating a greater probability of avalanches in sensitive zones. Meanwhile, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar have been kept under Danger Level-1. The advisory will remain effective till 5 pm on Monday.The warning was issued by the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) based on a forecast from the Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE), Chandigarh. Officials said the fresh accumulation of snow could sharply increase the chances of an avalanche, especially in areas with a history of such incidents.

Advisory For Residents

People living in snow-bound regions have been advised to restrict unnecessary movement, closely track weather updates, and remove snow from rooftops of houses, temporary shelters and cattle sheds. Those staying temporarily in heavy snowfall zones have been urged to relocate to safer, lower areas over the coming days.District administrations have been asked to stay on alert and ensure the advisory reaches local residents, trekkers and travellers. Authorities said conditions are under constant watch and district disaster management teams have been instructed to remain ready for emergencies due to rapidly changing weather.

Season's First Snowfall

The higher Himalayan belt of Uttarakhand had witnessed the season’s first snowfall on January 23, ending a prolonged dry spell that lasted through December and most of January. Since then, DGRE has issued multiple avalanche advisories for the state. Another warning was sounded on January 27 following fresh snowfall, renewing concerns over snow build-up and slope instability in vulnerable regions.