By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
RUDRAPRAYAG, 11 July: A massive landslide at the Sirobagarh–Khankara zone between Srinagar and Rudraprayag has once again paralysed the Rishikesh–Badrinath National Highway, considered the lifeline of Uttarakhand. The sensitive stretch, battered by landslides for nearly three decades, turned into a nightmare for Char Dham pilgrims and local residents once again as heavy rains triggered fresh debris and boulders late lFriday night. The highway has remained closed since 2 am, leaving thousands of travellers stranded and causing a traffic jam stretching nearly 10 kilometres. The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert, forecasting continued rainfall until 15 July.
Continuous downpour has worsened the situation, with massive boulders and mudslides cascading onto the road, hampering clearance operations. The machines and workers engaged in removing debris are also facing constant danger as fresh material keeps falling from the hillside. The affected stretch from Mini Goa Beach to Khankara is entirely under the grip of landslides. The police and administration have halted traffic at several points for safety, resulting in long queues of vehicles on both sides of the highway. Pilgrims, tourists, local residents and trucks carrying essential goods have been stuck for hours. Families, including children and the elderly, spent the night inside vehicles under rain and cold, adding to their hardship. Authorities have diverted small vehicles via the alternative Chhantikhal motor road towards Srinagar, but heavy vehicles remain stranded.
Traffic police officer Kailash Sharma said that the machines are working continuously to clear the debris, but falling rocks are disrupting the process. He stressed that the traffic will only be restored once safety is ensured. Former village head Narendra Mamgain pointed out that Sirobagarh has remained the most dangerous and sensitive part of the highway for 30 years, yet no permanent solution has been implemented. He said that every monsoon brings the same ordeal of road closures, long jams, stranded passengers and disrupted Char Dham Yatra.
Elsewhere in Tharali, heavy overnight rain brought down debris on the Tharali–Dewal motor road near Ghaghli Gadere, blocking the route and causing long queues of vehicles. Later, JCB machines cleared the road and restored traffic. The Tharali–Kurad–Pratha Road also remains blocked due to landslides. Villagers of Radibagarh reported that the swelling Gadere stream and accumulating debris have become a serious threat, forcing them to spend nights in fear. They alleged that timely construction of protective walls by the Irrigation Department could have prevented the crisis and demanded immediate permanent safety measures.
Heavy rainfall has triggered landslides across several parts of Tharali constituency. On the Karnaprayag–Gwaldam highway, a landslide near Narayanbagar market disrupted traffic, allowing only small vehicles to pass until BRO teams cleared the debris. Locals said that landslides recur at the spot every monsoon but permanent treatment has not been undertaken. On the Tharali–Dungri motor road, huge boulders falling from the hillside have blocked the route, cutting off 16 villages of Sol valley from the tehsil headquarters. Residents are forced to walk several kilometres on foot. Though the administration stocks food grains for three months before the monsoon, lack of permanent road treatment and protective works continues to complicate the villagers’ difficulties.
The Meteorological Centre has forecast rainfall across Uttarakhand until 15 July.
