The order was issued by chief secretary SS Sandhu in view of the state's extreme vulnerability to natural disasters, especially during the rainy season.                 

Government employees should not be granted leave till September 30 unless it is unavoidable, the order said.                 

The competent official sanctioning leave due to unavoidable circumstances should also name the employee to be deputed as a substitute, it said.                 

Landslides, cloudbursts and flash floods are common in Uttarakhand during the monsoon and often call for massive rescue and relief efforts. -- PTI