Uttarakhand experienced heavy rainfall and cloud bursts, causing disruptions in normal life. However, these weather conditions also helped in extinguishing forest fires that were raging in certain parts of the hill state. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning advising people against traveling to the hills, as rain is expected to continue until May 13.
The districts of Almora, Uttarkashi, and Bageshwar were particularly affected by the heavy rain, leading to the disruption of normal life. In some areas, homes in low-lying regions were flooded, and traffic congestion was observed on busy roads. Since November of last year, a total of 910 forest fires have occurred in Uttarakhand, resulting in damage to approximately 1,145 hectares of forest cover.
Cloud bursts were also witnessed in Almora and Bageshwar, while a hailstorm hit Purola village in Uttarkashi. The cloud burst in Almora’s Someshwar on Wednesday night resulted in the complete closure of the Almora-Kausani road. Furthermore, shops and houses in low-lying areas were filled with debris carried by the flowing waters.
Additionally, several vehicles were stranded, and the Chanod market in Almora-Kausani was affected by the debris. Fortunately, there have been no reports of casualties or property damage as of Thursday morning.
In response to the situation, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted a meeting with officials to discuss monsoon disaster mitigation and the management of the Char Dham Yatra. He emphasized the utilization of all available resources and warned that any negligence would be met with appropriate action.
During a hearing on forest fires in Uttarakhand, the Supreme Court criticized the state government, stating that it cannot solely rely on rain gods and cloud seeding. The court urged the government to find better ways to prevent such incidents and emphasized the need for long-term measures to protect the environment.