By Arun Pratap Singh
Uttarkashi, 4 Mar: The month of February has ended but heavy snowfall continues to affect the hill regions of Uttarakhand. Over the past two days, snowfall has led to the closure of the Gangotri Highway beyond Sukki. Officials deputed to conduct a rehearsal for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to Mukhba on 6 March were unable to reach Harsil due to road blockages. Meanwhile, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is actively working to clear the highway to enable traffic movement at the earliest.
Currently, the Gangotri Highway is open up till Sukki Top, with only 4×4 vehicles equipped with skid chains permitted to travel up to Jhala. However, the road from Jhala to Gangotri remains closed due to heavy snowfall. The Harsil Valley is also covered in thick clouds, adding the challenges for the travellers.
The region has been struggling to recover from the effects of snowfall, with life in eight villages, including Gangotri, still disrupted for the third consecutive day. Power and communication services, which were affected two days ago, have now been restored. According to the State Disaster Management Authority, traffic on the Gangotri Highway remains operational up to Sukki Top, but the route beyond remains blocked due to ongoing snowfall. What could be an issue of concern is the fact that the weather department and the related agencies have indicated an avalanche near Jangla Bridge, about 8–10 km ahead of Dharali and Harsil, further restricting access to Gangotri Dham.
It may be recalled that the authorities were scheduled to inspect preparations for PM Modi’s visit to Mukhba and Harsil, but snowfall halted their progress midway.
Despite these challenges, PM Modi’s visit remains scheduled for 6 March at 9 a.m., when he will offer prayers at the Mukhba temple. Earlier, his trip was postponed last month due to bad weather.
BRO officials have shared that the route from Songad to Sukki Top has been cleared for vehicles equipped with non-skid chains. Efforts to clear the road continue, with senior officials overseeing snow removal at Sukki Top. Two JCB machines are working between Songad and Sukki Top, while an EX-205 excavator has been dispatched to Dabrani to handle potential avalanches.
