Dehradun weather set to worsen as IMD rings yellow alert; rains to continue over the next few days
Thunderstorms & lightning expected
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has placed Dehradun and several districts of Uttarakhand under a yellow alert until August 23, warning of persistent rain, thunderstorms, and lightning over the coming days.Forecasters have also cautioned that rainfall intensity could increase after the alert period ends, raising the risk of further disruption. Districts including Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar, Nainital, and Pithoragarh have been flagged for heavy showers.Officials have advised residents and pilgrims to avoid unnecessary journeys until conditions improve.The downpour on Thursday morning left parts of Dehradun waterlogged, causing severe traffic jams across the city. In Matli village of Uttarkashi's Dunda block, two streams spilled over, flooding homes and forcing around 20 families to seek shelter in a nearby hotel.The Gangotri Highway was also blocked by debris for nearly five hours, cutting off movement along the key route. Similar scenes were reported from Joshiyada, Koti and Banga Road, where overflowing drains inundated houses and damaged boundary walls.Alarmed residents in these neighbourhoods remained awake through the night, worried about rising water levels.The Met office has warned that the current spell of rain will be accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in several locations. For Dehradun, the forecast suggests partly cloudy skies with light to moderate showers, while temperatures are likely to hover between 33°C and 24°C.Authorities have urged caution as rivers across the state, particularly the Alaknanda, continue to swell dangerously. Districts such as Tehri, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag and Chamoli are under close watch for possible landslides and flash floods.Uttarakhand has already endured 23 flash floods and 16 landslides this monsoon season, underscoring the risks of travel through hilly terrain.
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