Mussoorie, Jan. 29 -- Overnight rain and snowfall in Uttarakhand's higher reaches disrupted normal life on Wednesday, blocking key routes including the Gangotri and Yamunotri highways, as the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) issued a high alert across all districts amid warnings of snowfall and avalanches in high-altitude areas. The state disaster management authority issued an orange alert for medium-level avalanche risk in high-altitude regions for the next 24 hours. The warning, effective from 5.30pm on January 28 to 5.30pm on January 29, applies to areas above 2,800 metres in Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi districts. Vulnerable locations include Purola, Barkot, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Sonprayag and adjoining areas. Residents and travellers have been advised to exercise extreme caution due to the likelihood of snow slides. Secretary for disaster management and rehabilitation Vinod Kumar Suman directed district magistrates to maintain constant surveillance in sensitive areas, ensure departmental preparedness and issue timely advisories to the public. "All concerned departments have been asked to remain vigilant following the Orange alert issued by the state disaster management authority and the IMD. A close watch is being maintained in avalanche-prone areas of the district," said Shardul Gusain, district disaster management officer, Uttarkashi. According to the Defence Geo-Informatics Research Establishment (DGRE), Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Rudraprayag districts have been placed under the orange category (Category-3), where deep and unstable snow accumulation poses a significant risk of natural avalanches that may reach valley floors. Movement in these areas is advised only on selected safe routes, while activities on snow-laden slopes remain hazardous. Pithoragarh has been placed under the yellow category (Category-2), indicating unstable snow on some slopes with a possibility of small avalanches, while Bageshwar falls under the green category (Category-1), where conditions are largely stable but local instability triggered by human activity cannot be ruled out. In Uttarkashi district, the Gangotri Highway was closed due to heavy overnight snowfall. Disaster management teams, along with the Border Roads Organisation, later cleared snow from the route. "The Gangotri Highway has been opened for traffic up to Sukki Top, while vehicles fitted with snow chains are allowed beyond that point towards Gangotri," Gusain said. Snow clearance work was also carried out on the Yamunotri Highway up to Jan Ki Chatti, restoring traffic on both routes. The state recorded widespread rainfall over the past 24 hours till 8.30am on Wednesday, receiving 20.4mm of rain-an excess of 1,348% over the daily normal of 1.4mm. Bageshwar recorded the highest rainfall at 36.2mm, followed by Nainital (32.4mm) and Udham Singh Nagar (19.1mm). Dehradun received 20.3mm of rain, while Haridwar recorded 10.1mm. Snowfall was also reported at higher altitudes, with Shama and Munsiyari receiving 5cm each, Jan Ki Chatti and Surkanda Ji 3.5cm, Mukteshwar 1.5cm and traces in Kuthnaur. The combined precipitation led to a drop in temperatures across the state. Isolated thunderstorms, hail and severe cold conditions were also reported from several areas including Dehradun, Mussoorie, Tehri, Pantnagar, Haridwar, Mukteshwar and Jolly Grant. The highest maximum temperature of 25.1degC was recorded in Mohkampur (Dehradun), while Pantnagar recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 4.8degC. IMD Dehradun Centre director CS Tomar said light to moderate rain and snowfall is likely at a few places in hilly districts, while shallow to moderate fog may occur in valleys during the week. A further dip in minimum temperatures by 3 to 5degC in the plains and 1 to 2degC in the hills is expected over the next two days, though no cold wave warning has been issued....