Heavy rain and falling rocks have closed the Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway near Karnaprayag in Uttarakhand, according to news agency ANI. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warns that light to moderate rainfall and snowfall will continue on March 3 and 4 because of a new weather system affecting North India.
Officials say that rocks are falling at several places, including Animath and Pagal Nala in the Jyotirmath Kotwali area, which is why the highway remains closed. The road was first shut down on Friday morning due to a big avalanche in the Chamoli district.
In Himachal Pradesh, rain and snow have blocked 583 roads, including five National Highways, as reported by ANI, citing the State Disaster Management Authority. Additionally, 2,263 power transformers are not working, causing power outages in many areas. As of Friday, 279 water supply systems are also affected, leaving many people without water.
The weather department predicts that rain and snow in Himachal Pradesh will continue until March 4. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu asked people to avoid rivers and streams due to the heavy rain and snow, especially in the Kullu district. He has been monitoring the situation closely and urged everyone to follow safety guidelines.
Authorities have been told to open the gates of a power project dam because heavy rain has caused floods and landslides in the Kullu Valley.
IMD’s Weather Forecast
The IMD’s latest update shows that light to moderate rain and storms are expected over Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan on March 1. Strong winds (30-40 km/h) may occur in Haryana and Chandigarh on the same day.
A new weather system will bring rain and snow to Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand from March 2-4. Additionally, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh could see light to moderate rainfall on March 3.
In Northeast India, areas like Arunachal Pradesh and Assam may also see rain and thunderstorms on March 1, with strong winds (40-50 km/h). Hailstorms could also occur in some places.
Meanwhile, Kerala and surrounding areas are expecting rain and storms on March 1 and 2, with heavy rainfall possible in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Mahe on the same dates.
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