Chamoli (Uttarakhand) [India], July 4 (HBTV): The Badrinath National Highway has been blocked due to debris falling from the hillside near Nandprayag and Bhanerpani, as heavy rainfall continues to lash the region. The Chamoli Police confirmed the disruption, which has severely impacted movement in the area.

The highway near Nandprayag is a crucial route for pilgrims heading to Kedarnath, making its clearance a priority for local authorities.

Meanwhile, neighbouring Himachal Pradesh is also reeling under the impact of continuous heavy rainfall and cloudbursts. Several houses have been damaged, and vehicles swept away. A local resident affected by the cloudburst said, ‘Everything got washed away after a cloudburst. We are staying at our relatives' house.’

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier issued a warning of heavy rainfall across most parts of the country, attributing it to favourable monsoon conditions.

According to IMD scientist Naresh Kumar, two low-pressure circulations have developed — one in Madhya Pradesh and another in northern Odisha — both of which are contributing to the current weather pattern.

‘A circulation has formed in Madhya Pradesh, and another in northern Odisha and surrounding areas. All these conditions are very favourable for the monsoon. An orange or red alert is in place for almost the entire central India and the western coast, due to which we estimate that heavy rainfall may occur in eastern Rajasthan today... Overall, we can say that the monsoon is in an active phase. Heavy rainfall will continue in most parts of India for almost the entire week,’ Kumar said.

The IMD’s alert urges residents in affected areas to remain cautious and take necessary precautions. The ongoing downpours are expected to significantly affect various regions in the coming days.

In Delhi, the IMD has forecast overcast skies and rainfall over the next few days, with the monsoon expected to reach the capital soon.

Notably, India welcomed the monsoon on June 29, eight days ahead of its typical onset date of July 8. The Southwest Monsoon has now advanced into the remaining parts of Rajasthan, western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and fully covered the Delhi region, the IMD stated.   

(ANI)