Hailstorm warning for 4 districts in Uttarakhand; snowfall, rain add to chill

Image Courtesy: ANI

The Meteorological Department on Sunday issued hailstorm alert for four districts in Uttarakhand for the next 24 hours. 

The four districts - Dehradun, Tehri, Nainital and Pithoragarh - have been alerted for hailstorm, news agency ANI reported. 

State Disaster Managment Centre has asked District Magistrates of 13 districts to remain alert.

Meanwhile, snowfall in hills have also blocked various roads in the state. Visuals of fresh snowfall in Pithoragarh and snow-clearing work at Kedarnath were released by ANI. 

Pithoragarh: #Visuals of fresh snowfall from Munsiari village. #Uttarakhand pic.twitter.com/AXxgUA6HcP — ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2018

Uttarakhand: Snow-clearing work underway near Kedarnath temple pic.twitter.com/y13WAUBQ9o — ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2018

Overnight snowfall in hills and showers in the lower areas of Uttarakhand added to chill across the state and brought boulders onto the roads at various places, blocking them.

It has been snowing intermittently in the higher reaches of the mountains in Uttarakhand including the four Himalayan shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri since Saturday, while it has been raining moderately in the lower areas.

According to the meteorological department, light to moderate rains lashed various parts of the state since Saturday, including in Uttarkashi, Ukhimath, Jakholi, Nainital, Bageshwar and Dehradun.

Boulders blocked the road at Lambagad in Chamoli district while snowfall from Hanuman Chatti to Badrinath blocked Rishikesh-Badrinath highway. The Rishikesh-Gangotri Highway was closed for three hours due to snowfall on Friday.

The weatherman has predicted hailstorms at various places in Uttarakhand, including in Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Nainital and Pithoragarh, till Monday and a further drop in temperatures.

The state emergency operation centre has alerted the district magistrates and directed them to be watchful and ensure the safety of people in view of the meteorological department forecast.

(With Agency Inputs)