Avalanche Alert in Five Uttarakhand Districts: How Falling Snow Could Affect Delhi-NCR

New Delhi: Following fresh snowfall in the Himalayan region, the Uttarakhand government has issued a high-alert for five mountainous districts. The avalanche threat in these areas could have a wider impact on northern states, including the Delhi-NCR region.

Rising Avalanche Risk in Uttarakhand
The Indian Meteorological Department has warned of increased avalanche risk after recent snow accumulation in Uttarakhand’s upper regions. While heavy snowfall has occurred in higher altitudes, intermittent rainfall was recorded in lower areas, including the state capital Dehradun, on Sunday, further raising the risk of avalanches.

Avalanches, which are fast-moving flows of snow, ice, and debris, can cause significant loss of life and property. They also affect the weather in plains, contributing to intense cold, dense fog, and rainfall in northern states such as Delhi-NCR. Snowfall in hilly areas often leads to a sharp drop in temperatures in the plains.

Districts Under Alert

• Level-2 Danger (High Risk): Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag
• Level-1 Danger (Moderate Risk): Pithoragarh, Bageshwar

This advisory is effective until Monday, 5 PM and was issued by the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), based on forecasts from the Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE) in Chandigarh. Authorities warned that freshly accumulated snow could trigger avalanches, particularly in areas with prior incidents.

Guidelines for Residents and Visitors
People living in snow-covered areas have been advised to limit unnecessary movement, monitor weather updates, and clear snow from rooftops, temporary shelters, and animal enclosures. Residents in high-snowfall zones are urged to temporarily move to safer, lower-altitude areas in the coming days.

District Administration Measures
District administrations have been instructed to remain on high alert and ensure that advisories reach local residents, trekkers, and tourists. Continuous monitoring of the situation is underway, and disaster management teams have been directed to stay prepared for emergency scenarios caused by rapidly changing weather conditions.