Mussoorie, May 11 -- The state has been placed on high alert after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Dehradun centre issued an orange alert for May 12 and 13, forecasting thunderstorms, lightning, hailstorms and high-velocity winds in five hilly districts, including Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh. Cloud cover over the Char Dham shrines, including Hemkund Sahib, led to the suspension of helicopter services to Kedarnath Dham on Sunday as a precautionary measure, tourism officials said. District tourism officer Rudraprayag Rahul Chaubey said, "Apart from the daily weather bulletin issued by IMD, the Kedarnath area has its own localised weather system. Due to cloud cover on Sunday, we have stopped helicopter services to Kedarnath as a precautionary measure." According to the forecast for Kedarnath Dham, thunderstorms and lightning are expected, which may transition into rain or snowfall on Tuesday and Wednesday. Temperatures may drop to around 2degC, potentially disrupting helicopter operations and trekking routes due to fog and low visibility. At Hemkund Sahib, the mercury is expected to dip to a weekly low of minus 4degC, with daytime temperatures struggling to cross 3degC. At Badrinath Dham, temperatures are expected to range between 4degC and 15degC with cloudy skies and thundershowers likely during the week. Gangotri and Yamunotri are also likely to witness persistent thunderstorms and rainfall from Monday to Wednesday, with minimum temperatures expected to fall to around 5degC, according to the extended pilgrimage forecast issued by IMD Dehradun. IMD Dehradun centre officials said a yellow alert has been issued for Monday with a forecast of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph at isolated places in the hilly districts. "With a western disturbance becoming active again, an orange alert has been issued for Tuesday and Wednesday, with moderate to intense rainfall, frequent lightning and hailstorms along with wind gusts reaching up to 60 kmph in five hilly districts."...