Traffic movement has resumed this morning on the strategic Badrinath National Highway following the successful removal of debris near Nandprayag and Umatta caused by intense rainfall over the weekend. The temporary blockade had disrupted connectivity for commuters, pilgrims, and truckers, heightening concerns amid the monsoon season. The State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) had issued a high-alert landslide warning on July 6 for four districts—Tehri, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli—due to heavy downpours forecast for July 7 and 8.
Uttarkashi and Rudraprayag were expected to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall, intensifying the risk to roadside slopes and adjacent terrain. Rudraprayag Police amplified the alert via official channels, referencing warnings from the Geological Survey of India and the India Meteorological Department. Roadside monitoring teams were promptly mobilised to the affected zones. On Sunday, a landslide damaged the pedestrian track near Chhodi Gadhere, just one kilometre from Gaurikund, prompting officials to suspend the Kedarnath Dham yatra until further notice. This highlighted the broader regional threat posed by unstable terrain.
Over the weekend, the Chief Minister conducted an aerial survey of two landslide-hit stretches—Silai Band and Ojri Band—along the Yamunotri road in Uttarkashi, where heavy rains had partially washed away sections of the national highway. Emergency repairs were sanctioned to restore safe passage. Prompt intervention by teams from the National Highways and local civic authorities ensured the cleared debris was removed from the highway corridor by early Monday, enabling vehicle movement to resume. Commuters expressed relief as journey times returned to normal.
Still, seismologists emphasise that Himalayan slopes remain inherently unstable during the monsoon, and single-point interventions offer only temporary reprieve. To enhance resilience, experts are urging a shift towards long-term solutions—such as bioengineering, slope stabilisation, real-time landslide detection systems, and coordinated efforts between national highway authorities and state emergency services. As the region braces for continued rainfall, authorities are urged to sustain vigilance. With essential pilgrimage and tourism routes at stake, coordinated preemptive measures are essential to protect lives, livelihoods, and critical national infrastructure.
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