Noida 02 August 2024: The regional meteorological centre of the Indian Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in seven districts of Uttarakhand for the next 48 hours, starting Tuesday night. The alert warns of “heavy to very heavy rainfall with thunderstorm, lightning, and very intense to extremely intense spells of rain” in isolated areas of Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Nainital, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, and Champawat districts.
School Closures and Precautions
In response to the alert, Dehradun, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar districts declared a one-day closure for schools on July 31. The Dehradun district administration issued a directive stating, “Given the high possibility of landslides in prone areas due to heavy rains, which may lead to untoward incidents, all government and private schools from classes 1-12, as well as anganwadi centres, will remain closed on Wednesday.”
Recent School Closures
Recently, Dehradun’s schools and Anganwadi centers were closed on July 26 due to an ‘orange’ alert for heavy rain from the National Disaster Management Authority. The closure included all government and private institutions from class 1 to 12. The decision aimed to ensure safety and avoid incidents, particularly landslides, during the severe weather conditions.
Community Response
A poll has been initiated to gauge public opinion on whether the Wayanad landslides should be declared a national disaster, with options to agree or disagree.
By taking these precautionary measures, the authorities aim to minimize the risk to students and residents during the forecasted heavy rainfall and potential landslides in the affected districts.