Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 7 Aug: State Tourism, Public Works, and Irrigation Minister Satpal Maharaj has stated that, due to heavy rainfall, landslides have caused significant damage to roads at various locations, leading to widespread blockages. Officers and staff from the Public Works Department (PWD), National Highways, BRO, and PMGSY are working round the clock with the help of heavy machinery to restore connectivity.
Maharaj said that continuous efforts are being made to restore road links, communication networks, and other critical connectivity in disaster-affected areas. Reports have also been received of tourists being stranded, and efforts are underway to rescue them. A shuttle service has been initiated between Maatli and Harsil in the wake of the disaster in Harsil and Dharali areas of Uttarkashi district. Rescue operations are being carried out on a war footing by the government. So far, 274 people have been safely evacuated from Gangotri and nearby areas to Harsil, and 35 individuals have been airlifted from Harsil to Jolly Grant Airport via Chinook helicopters. Food supplies are also being continuously delivered to affected areas via helicopter services.
Providing further information, the Minister said that, as of Thursday, a total of 359 roads under the Public Works Department were reported blocked across the state, out of which 243 have been reopened for traffic. Restoration work on the remaining 116 roads is ongoing at a war pace. Among the blocked roads are 1 National Highway, 11 State Highways, 9 Major District Roads, 2 other district roads, and 93 Rural Roads.
To ensure quick restoration of road connectivity, a total of 514 machines have been deployed at critical and potentially vulnerable locations across the state. Executive Engineers in all disaster-affected areas, including Dharali and Harsil, have been instructed to prioritise the reopening of blocked roads.
