By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
UTTARKASHI, 11 Jul: Heavy debris on the Yamunotri highway near Syanachatti on Saturday morning completely blocked the road, leaving several pilgrims stranded. On receiving information, SDRF teams from Barkot and Jankichatti posts rushed to the site with rescue equipment. With the highway closed, SDRF personnel laid ropes across an alternative path and carefully escorted nearly 100 pilgrims one by one to safety. All travellers were rescued without incident.
It may be reminded here that continuous rainfall has disrupted several routes across Uttarakhand, causing landslides and hardship for residents and pilgrims. In Uttarkashi, District Magistrate Prashant Arya inspected the landslide-affected area at Syanachatti today, reviewing relief, restoration and traffic arrangements. He also directed the officials to construct an alternative route on a war footing and ensure immediate availability of all necessary resources to restore traffic on the national highway. He instructed the Executive Engineer of the National Highway to complete construction of the bridge over the Yamuna at Syanachatti within a week, warning that no negligence would be tolerated. He emphasised that the safety of Char Dham pilgrims and local citizens is the administration’s highest priority and ordered all departments to conduct relief, rescue and restoration work with sensitivity and urgency.
During the inspection, the SDM Barkot was directed to make transhipment arrangements more secure, effective and organised. Orders were given to provide ropes, solar lights and other safety equipment at sensitive points along the alternative pedestrian route to ensure safe passage for travellers. The DM also inspected channelisation works on the Yamuna being carried out by the Irrigation Department, directing acceleration of efforts to maintain smooth river flow and immediate removal of debris obstructing the stream at Garhgad. He stressed increasing the number of machines to reduce potential risks. He said the district administration is closely monitoring the situation in affected areas and giving top priority to relief, safety and restoration of traffic.
It may be recalled that the Yamunotri highway near Syanachatti had been closed since Thursday afternoon following a sudden landslide. Despite continuous efforts by highway staff and machines to clear debris, persistent rain caused repeated falls of mud and large boulders, preventing safe reopening of the road. The conditions have since remained unchanged and the route was blocked for the third consecutive day today. Pilgrims heading to Yamunotri Dham were forced to disembark near Syanachatti and walk across the affected stretch before resuming their journey in vehicles waiting on the other side. The local residents too faced severe difficulties as supply of essential goods was disrupted and daily activities, trade and movement were adversely affected.
