Avalanche warning in 3 states, U’khand on high alert

DEHRADUN: An avalanche warning was issued on Friday for vulnerable high-altitude places in Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag and Pithoragarh districts. The Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), which is a part of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), issued the warning valid for next 48 hours beginning from Friday.
Similar avalanche warnings have been issued for Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh as well.According to the advisory, “Keeping in view the present snow pack conditions and projected weather, avalanche warning is valid till Sunday.”
“People are advised not to venture in avalanche-prone areas during the above-mentioned period,” the advisory said.
According to state emergency operation centre, ‘medium danger’ avalanche warning exists for avalanche-prone areas above 3,000 metres in Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag and Pithoragarh districts.
The state government issued directions to the district magistrates of these four districts asking them to take necessary steps.
The meteorological centre has predicted light to moderate rainfall at many places in Uttarakhand on Saturday and Sunday. Higher reaches having altitude of 3,500 metres and above are expected to receive snow as well. The temperatures, which were remaining above normal, are likely to settle down around normal level.
Notably, two jawans were killed when an Army check-post was hit by an avalanche in Pithoragarh district on March 3 last year. The mishap occurred after upper reaches of the district witnessed heavy snowfall continuously for two days. Pithoragarh disaster management officer RS Rana told TOI, “We have received the avalanche warning. However, the weather is still normal here. As a precaution, we have forwarded the warning to the Army, ITBP and SSB check-posts located at forward locations. Most of the avalanche-prone hills are located in Munsyari and Dharchula areas of the district.”
Uttarkashi district magistrate Vinay Shankar Pandey said, “We have activated the information system in the district and all the village heads have been informed about the warning through patwaris. Border Roads Organization (BRO), Public Works Department (PWD) and other agencies have been put on a high alert. People living at vulnerable points have been told to remain vigilant and take extra precautions.”