By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 25 Jul: The southwest monsoon continues to lash Uttarakhand, severely disrupting road connectivity, public life and essential services across the State. According to the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), a total of 72 roads are closed across Uttarakhand as on Saturday morning due to incessant rainfall, landslides and the continuous fall of debris and boulders from vulnerable hill slopes. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also forecast continued heavy rainfall over Uttarakhand during the next few days, urging people to avoid unnecessary travel, particularly in the hill districts.
The latest SEOC report stated that the blocked roads include three State Highways, one Major District Road (MDR), one Border Roads Organisation (BRO) road, 20 Public Works Department (PWD) roads and 47 PMGSY and rural roads. Pithoragarh is the worst affected district with 14 roads closed, followed by Chamoli with 11 roads, Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi with 10 roads each, Bageshwar with eight, Dehradun with seven, Tehri with six, Pauri with three, Almora with two and Nainital with one road remaining blocked. Road restoration teams equipped with heavy machinery have been deployed by the concerned departments, although continuous rainfall is slowing down clearance operations.
The impact of the monsoon has been particularly severe in the hill districts. During the past 24 hours, Bhatwari in Uttarkashi recorded 66 mm of rainfall, while Jakholi in Rudraprayag received 87 mm. Didihat and Dharchula in Pithoragarh recorded 35.6 mm and 35.4 mm respectively, Lansdowne in Pauri received 35 mm, Kapkot in Bageshwar 22 mm, Chaukhutia in Almora 23 mm and Maldevta in Dehradun 21.5 mm. Persistent rainfall has triggered repeated landslides and rockfalls, frequently disrupting road connectivity and posing a serious threat to commuters.
Several important highways were also affected by landslides during the day. Traffic on the Rishikesh-Kedarnath National Highway was also temporarily suspended near Paligad and Silaiband in Rudraprayag after debris slid onto the carriageway. The route was later reopened following intensive clearance work. Similarly, traffic on the Rishikesh-Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarkashi was disrupted after a landslide, but the administration managed to restore movement within a few hours. However, many rural roads remain blocked, forcing residents to take long detours for their daily commute.
The impact of the heavy rain has extended beyond transport infrastructure. In Joshimath of Chamoli district, a damaged power feeder disrupted electricity supply to several villages. In Jakholi block of Rudraprayag, drinking water supply to two villages was affected after pipelines were damaged. In Mori block of Uttarkashi, technical faults triggered by adverse weather disrupted power supply to several villages. Repair work is continuing in all affected areas.
Several rain-related incidents have also been reported during the past 24 hours. A man drowned in a river in the Nanakmatta area of Udham Singh Nagar, while the body of an eight-year-old boy who had been swept away in the Saryu River was recovered in Bageshwar. In Rudraprayag, a pilgrim who fell seriously ill was airlifted to Dehradun by helicopter for advanced medical treatment. Three persons were injured in a road accident in the district, while a fire caused by a short circuit broke out during a religious programme in Dehradun.
Despite the widespread rainfall, the water levels of the state‘s major rivers, including the Alaknanda, Mandakini, Bhagirathi, Ganga, Kali, Saryu and Sharda, remain below the danger mark at present. However, the authorities claim to be maintaining continuous surveillance as further rainfall is expected over the coming days. The IMD has warned that the active monsoon conditions are likely to persist in Uttarakhand, increasing the risk of landslides, flash floods, rockfalls and road blockages across vulnerable mountainous regions.
It may be recalled that the recent spells of heavy rain have already disrupted the Char Dham region several times during the ongoing pilgrimage season, with landslides repeatedly affecting key pilgrimage routes and forcing temporary traffic restrictions in the interest of pilgrim safety.
The State Disaster Management Department and district administrations have appealed to the residents, the tourists and Char Dham pilgrims to avoid unnecessary travel during periods of intense rainfall, remain alert in landslide-prone areas, and rely only on official weather bulletins and traffic advisories before undertaking any journey. Continuous monitoring of vulnerable locations is underway and emergency response teams remain on standby across the State.
