Garhwal Post Bureau
Uttarkashi, 26 Aug: Continuous heavy rainfall has triggered a series of landslides and land subsidence across Uttarkashi district, leaving the Gangotri and Yamunotri highways blocked and isolating many villages from administrative centres. The Gangotri Highway near Naluna has remained closed for the second consecutive day, while the Yamunotri Highway has remained shut for five days due to persistent land caving near Junglechatti and Ranachatti. The disruption has severely impacted daily life, forcing residents to walk long distances to reach district and tehsil headquarters for essential work.
A major landslide occurred yesterday morning at around 7 a.m. near Sainj Naluna, approximately 20 kilometres from the district headquarters, completely blocking the Gangotri Highway with a massive accumulation of debris. Locals have resorted to using an old footpath above the Rural Arya Trust leading to Syaba Bridge as an alternative route. Connectivity to dozens of villages, including those in Harsil Valley and Bhatwari, has been cut off, and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is struggling to clear the route due to continuous rockfalls from the hillside. Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Mukta Mishra has confirmed that a team comprising seven jawans, one home guard, three PRD jawans, a BRO loader, and an excavator has been deployed to the site, and that efforts are underway to reopen the highway at the earliest.
The Yamunotri Highway remains closed for the fifth consecutive day, with land subsidence near Junglechatti and Ranachatti posing significant challenges to restoration efforts. The National Highways Department is facing difficulty in clearing the route due to ongoing erosion and falling debris. Boulders and loose soil from the cliffs continue to obstruct the road, making it unsafe for machinery and personnel. Residents of Yamunotri Dham and nearby villages are compelled to walk several kilometres to access the tehsil headquarters, with no immediate relief in sight.
It may be recalled that the monsoon season has wreaked havoc across Uttarkashi, claiming lives and displacing families. The disaster has instilled fear among the populace, as multiple connecting roads remain blocked, paralysing vehicular movement and disrupting access to essential services. The Gangotri Highway also remains obstructed near Dharasu and Sonagad, while the Yamunotri route is impassable near Kuthnaur and Naradchatti. The administration is working on war footing to restore connectivity, with barricades placed at vulnerable points and teams deployed to clear debris and stabilise the terrain.
District Magistrate Prashant Arya has conducted on-site inspections of both the highways and has directed agencies concerned like BRO, PWD, and NHIDCL to expedite restoration work and ensure safety protocols are followed. The situation remains tense, with hundreds of vehicles stranded and mobile connectivity disrupted in several areas. As the rains continue to lash the region, the administration is urging residents to remain vigilant and avoid travel through landslide-prone zones.
