Garhwal Post Bureau
Tehri, 2 Sep: Heavy rainfall has triggered a landslide along the Shaheed Vinod Pal Singh Bisht Chhatiyara-Khawada motor road in Tehri district, leaving the route blocked for nearly 35 hours.
A large quantity of debris and boulders has fallen on the road, disrupting connectivity to 32 villages in the area. The continuous movement of earth and rocks has also made travel on the route dangerous. The landslide has particularly affected the areas below Mandodra village and above Karnagaon. Residents said large boulders continued to fall from the hillside, posing a serious risk to commuters. The road has reportedly remained closed since 2013 during the monsoon season due to recurring landslides.
The villagers say that the problem becomes more severe every year during the rainy season. With the road blocked, residents are facing difficulties in reaching hospitals and carrying out essential work. Patients and pregnant women are among those worst affected.
Karnagaon village Pradhan Ratan Singh has urged the administration to take permanent measures to check the landslides below Mandodra village. He also sought adequate machinery and resources to clear the road at the earliest. Sub-Divisional Magistrate Manju Rajput said efforts are under way to reopen the Chhatiyara-Khawada motor road. A breaker and compressor were brought from Rishikesh, following which work to remove the debris began.
The administration hopes to restore traffic on the route soon. However, officials have warned that falling boulders may continue to pose a risk during the clearance operation. The SDM said a geological survey of the affected area had been ordered. Experts will examine the site and prepare a report, on the basis of which permanent measures to prevent further landslides will be decided. Officials have advised people to exercise caution and avoid travelling through areas where rocks are continuing to fall from the hillside.
