📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Post of India
Weather
IMD issues red alert for heavy rain in Uttarakhand, Char Dham Yatra halted
✍️ newsonair.gov.in
🗓 03 Oct 2026, 03:32 AM
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The India Meteorological Department has placed Uttarakhand under a red alert for very heavy rainfall, prompting authorities to suspend the Char Dham pilgrimage.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued a red alert for Uttarakhand, signalling the likelihood of very heavy rainfall across the state in the coming days. The alert, the highest level in the IMD’s warning system, was triggered after satellite data and ground observations indicated a deep low‑pressure system moving into the Himalayan region.
Meteorologists expect the system to dump up to 150 mm of rain in the higher reaches of the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions, with lower‑lying districts also likely to receive intense showers. The heavy precipitation is expected to persist for 48‑72 hours, raising the risk of flash floods, landslides and road blockages.
In response, the Uttarakhand state government has suspended the Char Dham Yatra, the annual pilgrimage that draws thousands of devotees to the sacred shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Officials said the decision was taken to safeguard pilgrims and local residents from the imminent weather hazards.
Authorities have also issued advisories urging residents to stay indoors, avoid travel on mountain roads, and cooperate with rescue teams. The IMD will continue to monitor the system and update the alert status as the situation evolves.
Meteorologists expect the system to dump up to 150 mm of rain in the higher reaches of the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions, with lower‑lying districts also likely to receive intense showers. The heavy precipitation is expected to persist for 48‑72 hours, raising the risk of flash floods, landslides and road blockages.
In response, the Uttarakhand state government has suspended the Char Dham Yatra, the annual pilgrimage that draws thousands of devotees to the sacred shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Officials said the decision was taken to safeguard pilgrims and local residents from the imminent weather hazards.
Authorities have also issued advisories urging residents to stay indoors, avoid travel on mountain roads, and cooperate with rescue teams. The IMD will continue to monitor the system and update the alert status as the situation evolves.