Anand Kumar Sharma, director of Uttarakhand's meteorological department, confirmed that specific warnings and alerts had been issued along with the weather report.
"Yes, I had issued timely and correct weather forecast for heavy to very heavy rains and landslides for June 16 and June 17, with an advisory that people should not venture into the hills and those already there should be moved to safer places."
Sharma also confirmed that he had advised that the yatra be postponed in view of the extremely bad weather.
