By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun/Uttarkashi, 4 Aug: Continuous rainfall in Uttarkashi district has led to continued landslides and disruption of the Yamunotri National Highway even as fresh subsidence has been reported from Gangotri Highway in the ditrict. Several active landslide zones between Paligad and Jankichatti along the Yamunotri Highway continue to pose a major challenge for the district administration and executing agencies. The situation is particularly critical in the Syanachatti area, where continuous rockfall, debris and boulders from the hillside have emerged as the biggest obstacle in restoring the highway. Despite the difficult conditions, teams of the National Highways (NH) Department and the construction agency are working round the clock with heavy machinery to clear debris and make the road safe for traffic.
The closure of the highway yesterday left a large number of Kanwar pilgrims and other devotees stranded along the route. The worst-affected stretches were between Syanachatti, Silai Bend and Hanumanchatti, where intermittent landslides and falling rocks repeatedly disrupted traffic and hampered restoration work.
Some relief came after the road near Silai Bend was partially reopened, enabling the gradual movement of stranded pilgrims and Kanwar yatris towards their destinations. Keeping safety in view, the administration has allowed vehicular movement in a regulated manner. However, conditions on the Yamunotri National Highway between Paligad and Jankichatti continue to be highly vulnerable according to the local residents there. At the same time, the administration claims that it is closely monitoring the sensitive stretches and that the traffic is being regulated according to prevailing weather conditions.
Meanwhile, on the Gangotri National Highway, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has swiftly cleared debris following a landslide near Papadgad and restored traffic movement. This has eased travel for pilgrims heading towards Gangotri Dham as well as local residents. The district administration, however, concedes that continuous rainfall has rendered several hill slopes across the district highly vulnerable.
District Disaster Management Officer Shardul Gusain shared with the media that NHAI machinery is continuously engaged in clearing debris from the Yamunotri Highway. He said that wherever landslides occur, machinery is being deployed immediately to reopen the road and that ensuring the safety of travellers remains the administration’s highest priority. He added that normal traffic movement would be fully restored once the situation stabilises.
At the same time, fresh land subsidence near Papadgad in the Bhatwari area has once again heightened concerns over the safety of the Gangotri National Highway. A light crack measuring nearly 50 metres, first noticed on the road on Monday morning, widened rapidly by the afternoon, disrupting traffic for nearly four hours. Considering the risk, the administration and the BRO initially permitted only two-wheelers to pass through the affected stretch. Traffic was later restored after the cracks were temporarily filled with soil, but local residents warned that this is merely a temporary arrangement and that a major mishap may possibly occur at any time.
According to the local residents, the subsidence has created a serious threat not only to the Gangotri National Highway but also to Kyark village located on the hillside above. Although the BRO has managed to restore traffic by filling the cracks with soil, there is still a strong possibility of renewed subsidence if heavy vehicles continue to ply on the road or if the area receives even moderate rainfall. The residents recalled that in August last year nearly 100 metres of the Gangotri National Highway had caved in at the same location, disrupting traffic for three days. The incident had also delayed the movement of administrative officials and disaster response teams to Dharali and Harsil as there is no alternative route available.
The villagers said that despite the recurrence of subsidence in the Papadgad area over the past year, no permanent measures have been taken to safeguard either the highway or Kyark village. On Monday, traffic remained suspended for nearly four hours after the appearance of the 50-metre-long crack, with only motorcycles being allowed to pass during the closure.
The residents also point out that Papadgad has remained vulnerable to land subsidence for a long time. They stressed that the absence of an alternative route makes the situation particularly alarming.
The latest incident, they said, clearly indicates that the danger has not subsided. They warned that continued movement of heavy vehicles or further heavy rainfall can trigger another major collapse of the road, adversely affecting the Gangotri pilgrimage. They remind that during the monsoon, enormous quantities of debris and huge boulders are washed down from the Papadgad area, posing a grave threat not only to the motor bridge on the Gangotri Highway but also to Kyark village situated above.
They emphasised that unless timely protective measures are undertaken, both the village and the highway can suffer extensive damage in the future. The villagers have demanded the construction of strong protective structures along the banks of the Bhagirathi River to permanently control land subsidence. They said that every monsoon season forces residents of the area to live under constant fear and urged the administration to focus on a long-term solution instead of relying on temporary repairs.
On the other hand, District Magistrate Prashant Arya said that the BRO is conducting a detailed survey through THDC to facilitate permanent protection works in the Papadgad area. Based on the findings, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being prepared. He said that once the DPR is completed and the necessary approvals are obtained, permanent protective works would be initiated to safeguard both the Gangotri National Highway and Kyark village.
The administration insisted that the affected area is being continuously monitored and that all concerned departments have been instructed to remain on alert to deal with any emergency arising from the prevailing weather conditions.
