As persistent rains continue to cause havoc in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, traffic has been suspended and debris is still falling at numerous locations along the Gangotri-Yamunotri National Highway, according to officials on Wednesday. The Gangotri-Yamunotri National Highway has been closed to traffic, according to the Uttarkashi District Administration, because boulders have continued to fall in numerous locations as a result of the region’s persistent rains. “Movement on the Gangotri Highway has ceased at four locations, including Bandarkot. There are roadblocks on Yamunotri Highway in Silkyara and other places. The highway is being attempted to be opened by JCB machines on the routes, the Uttarkashi District Administration added.
Traffic and pilgrimage stopped on Monday as boulders continued to fall at many places on the Yamunotri Highway as torrential rains continued in Uttarkashi district, officials said.
District disaster management official of Uttarkashi, Devendra Patwal, said that due to the boulders falling continuously for the last three days, the traffic on both sides of the road has come to a complete standstill.
“Significantly, due to this, there has been a break on the Yamunotri pilgrimage, leaving many commuters including pilgrims and locals passenger stranded,” the official said.
“Big boulders fell from mountains on Monday morning further exacerbating the woes of commuters,” the official said.
The Badrinath Highway in Kameda washed out for a distance of 60 to 70 meters, according to the Chamoli police, and was closed to traffic as a result. Numerous commuters, including tourists and locals, were stranded on both sides of the highway, according to the police. On July 23, Uttarkashi District Magistrate (DM) Abhishek Rohila told ANI that several areas of the district had suffered severe damage as a result of the region’s torrential downpours.