Dehradun, July 1 -- The Uttarakhand government on Wednesday initiated emergency protocols and started broadcasting SMS weather warnings to high-risk areas following a three-day "Orange Alert" for heavy rainfall issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman warned that while the annual Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage remains active, footfall is expected to drop sharply if the heavy downpours intensify across the Himalayan region.

Speaking to ANI, DM said, "The IMD has issued an 'Orange Alert' for three days... Alerts are being sent via SMS to areas where heavy rainfall is expected. The Char Dham Yatra is currently underway, but the number of pilgrims will certainly decr...