Alaknanda River:
Heavy rains in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand have triggered a surge in the water level of the Alaknanda River, creating a flood-like situation in the region.
- Alaknanda River is a Himalayan river in the state of Uttarakhand.
- It is one of the two main headstreams of the Ganges River, the other being the Bhagirathi River.
- It originates from the meltwaters of the Satopanth and Bhagirath Kharak glaciers in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand.
- The river is joined by many tributaries in Uttarakhand.
- Five of the tributaries are considered major, and their points of confluence are also worshipped. The five holy confluences in the Garhwal Himalayas are also known as Panch Prayag.
- At the time of the formation of Ganga, Alaknanda’s contribution to the flow is much larger than that of Bhagirathi.
- From its source till its union with Bhagirathi, Alaknanda travels for 190 km (approx.).
- Along the banks of the Alaknanda are numerous important pilgrimage sites such as Badrinath, Hemkund Sahib, and Joshimath.
- The Alaknanda River valley is a significant part of the Char Dham Yatra, a pilgrimage circuit that encompasses four sacred sites—Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.
- There are several hydel projects in the basin, which include the Alaknanda (Badrinath), Lata Tapovan, Devsari Dam, Nandprayag Langasu, and Vishnugad Pipalkoti, to name a few.
