Uttarakhand on Orange Alert: Snowfall and Rain Predicted, Rabi Crops and Tourism Hit

• The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, and Bageshwar districts of Uttarakhand, predicting rain and snowfall from January 23 to January 25.
• Areas above 2800 meters are expected to receive snowfall, which is crucial for the region's agriculture and water resources.
• Lack of winter rain has already caused 15-25% losses to Rabi crops like wheat and peas, with crops drying up in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, and Tehri.
• Apple orchards are suffering from insufficient 'chilling hours' due to no snowfall, threatening future fruit production and quality.
• Absence of snow at tourist spots like Auli, Munsyari, and Chakrata has led to mass booking cancellations, causing a 25 crore rupee loss in Nainital's tourism revenue alone and impacting local livelihoods.

Why It Matters: Uttarakhand faces severe weather with rain and snow, impacting agriculture, tourism, and future water supply.