Key Points
- Monsoon rains have triggered widespread landslides and flooding across Uttarakhand, severely disrupting daily life and pilgrimage routes.
- Gangotri Highway has been reopened by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) after a major landslide, providing relief to stranded travelers.
- Kedarnath, Yamunotri, and Badrinath highways remain blocked due to fresh landslides, debris, and continuous rainfall, leaving thousands of pilgrims and locals stranded.
- Villages like Kunsala, Kupda, and Trikhali have lost road connectivity, and Syanachatti faces flooding threats after a cloudburst-created lake swelled overnight.
- Rescue operations by SDRF and police are ongoing, with dozens evacuated from high-risk zones, but many routes are still unsafe or impassable.
Dehradun: The monsoon has unleashed unprecedented devastation across Uttarakhand, with landslides, flash floods, and rising rivers cutting off vital pilgrimage highways and isolating entire villages. The relentless downpour has left thousands of pilgrims, tourists, and locals stranded, while authorities race against time to restore connectivity and ensure safety.
Gangotri Highway Reopened After Herculean Effort
A major landslide in the Bhatwadi area of Uttarkashi district recently blocked the Gangotri Highway, one of the region’s most crucial pilgrimage routes. The landslide caused deep cracks and rendered the road impassable for days. After round-the-clock efforts, the Border Roads Organization (BRO) managed to clear the debris and reopen the highway, bringing much-needed relief to hundreds of stranded pilgrims and local residents.
Kedarnath and Yamunotri Routes Still Blocked
While the Gangotri route is now open, the situation remains dire on other major pilgrimage highways:
- Kedarnath Highway: In Rudraprayag district, continuous heavy rain has triggered rockfalls and landslides near Munkatiya. The road has been destroyed in several places, making travel extremely dangerous. On Wednesday evening, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rescued 40 passengers trapped near the Sonprayag slide zone, but the route remains closed and hazardous.
- Yamunotri Highway: The highway in Uttarkashi district has been shut for four days due to persistent landslides, with a new blockage reported near Banas. Villages such as Kunsala, Kupda, and Trikhali have lost all road contact with the tehsil headquarters after the approach to the main motor bridge was washed away. Residents are facing shortages of essentials as heavy rain continues to batter the region.
Syanachatti Lake: Flooding Threatens Towns and Hotels
A cloudburst in Syanachatti has created a temporary lake, and overnight rains have caused its water level to rise alarmingly. Water has entered several hotels along the banks, and the swelling Yamuna river now threatens the Syanachatti bridge and nearby settlements. In Paligad, residents spent a sleepless night as the river surged dangerously close to homes. Police and SDRF teams have evacuated families from the most threatened areas.
Badrinath Highway Blocked by Heavy Debris
Chamoli district is also reeling under monsoon fury. The Badrinath National Highway is blocked at multiple points, including Umatta near Pipalkoti, Nandprayag, and Karnaprayag, due to massive debris flows. Passenger vehicles are stranded on both sides, with travelers anxiously awaiting a break in the weather so that rescue and restoration work can proceed.
Widespread Disruption and Ongoing Rescue
Across Uttarakhand, normal life has been thrown into chaos. Roads have collapsed, homes have been washed away, and communication with several villages is cut off. Rescue teams are working tirelessly to evacuate those at risk and provide relief to affected families, but the scale of the disaster is overwhelming.
Authorities have urged people to avoid travel to the hills until conditions improve and restoration work is complete. With the monsoon expected to continue, further landslides and flooding remain a serious threat.
The monsoon’s relentless assault has left Uttarakhand’s famed pilgrimage routes in ruins and its people in distress. While the reopening of the Gangotri Highway offers a glimmer of hope, the crisis on the Kedarnath, Yamunotri, and Badrinath routes underscores the urgent need for coordinated rescue, relief, and infrastructure repair efforts. As the rains continue, the state faces a race against time to avert further tragedy and restore normalcy.
