Dehradun, Aug 31 (IANS): The Met office on Friday sounded an alert for heavy rains in most parts of Uttarakhand in the next three days, officials said.

Heavy to very heavy rains have been predicted for Dehradun, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Paudi, Nainital and Udhamsingh Nagar, after which district authorities and the disaster management teams have been alerted.

Officials have been asked to step up vigil in low lying areas, banks of rivers and in landslide prone regions, an official told IANS. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been put on high alert. Mussourie is also likely to receive heavy rains in the next 24-hours.

Meanwhile, rains continue to pound the hill regions in Uttarakhand, leading to death of 10 persons in the last 48-hours. A 20-metre stretch on the Kedarnath highway, near Gaurikund has caved in disrupting vehicular movement, an official informed. Traffic has also been halted near Lambagad on the busy Badrinath highway due to falling of debris triggered by a landslide.

A 54-year-old man, identified as Mohan died after being struck by lightening at Ratgaon in Chamoli district. A cattle yard was flattened by lightening at Ghat thesis killing many cattle. Nine houses have been damaged due to heavy rains in Bageshwar. Haridwar too continues to witness heavy rains.