Over 175 roads blocked as rains lash U’khand
Normal life in Uttarakhand was disrupted due to overnight torrential rains which left more than 175 roads blocked and several bridges damaged in the hill state affecting Char Dham yatra on Saturday.
According to the public works department (PWD), after the clearing of 84 road stretches, 179 roads are still blocked in the state on Saturday.
In Chamoli district, the Badrinath highway was washed away due to landslides between Badrinath and Benakuli, while the Gopeshwar-Chopta road was washed out due to heavy rains, resulting in the complete closure of traffic.
The pilgrimage to Badrinath came to halt due to landslides and over 2,000 pilgrims were stranded due to the rains and were subsequently sent to the shelters in Pandukeshwar and Govind Ghat, while the pilgrims already in the shrine were asked to wait until the road is cleared for traffic, said district disaster management authority officials in Chamoli.
The border road from Thal to Munsiyari and Milam security posts at India-China border was closed and several villages and town of Munsiyari were delinked from vehicle transportation after a bridge at Dwaligar near Nachni village titled towards one side following rains, said the administration.
“The bridge, which links Munsiyari town and 14 villages of Malla Johar (Upper part of Johar valley) with mainstream Thal town, titled towards left side after rains on Friday night, following which it was closed for transportation, “said Bhagat singh Phonia, SDM of Munsiyari.
In another incident of rain rage, a concrete bridge at Lakhi Ghigran village in Chamoli district caved in.
In Dehradun district, the Kalsi- Chakrata road was also reported closed at several spots. However, after about one and a half hours of hard work, the road was opened for traffic.
Most of the rivers were in spate, with authorities advising people to stay away from the banks as a precautionary measure. As per the district disaster management authority, Chamoli, the water level of the major rivers was slightly below the danger mark. The water level of Alaknananda river was at 953.90 metres with danger level being at 957.42 metres and in Nandakini river the water level was 868.20 metres with Danger level being at 871.50 metres, at Pinder the water level was at 769.75 metres with danger level being at 773.00 metres.
In Rudraprayag the water level in Alaknanda river at 627 metre (danger level 627 metre) while the water level of Mandakini river was 623.15 metre below the danger mark of 626 metre.
MS Mahar, district disaster management officer of Pithoragarh, said all main rivers -- Kali, Saryu and Gori -- are flowing at danger levels following the incessant rains. “We have issued warning to the villagers living nearby to not go near the banks.”
However, despite the warnings, the incidents of people entering and reaching the banks of overflowing rivers are still reported. In Pauri, two persons were stuck in the Sukro river at Kotdwar. They were rescued by a team from state disaster response force (SDRF).
Dhiraj Singh Garbyal, district magistrate of Nainital, said, “We have issued directions to concerned departments to remain on toes and ensure quick disaster response.”
Meanwhile, the Char Dham Yatra saw a severe dip in number of pilgrims at the major shrines in the state. Around 2,369 pilgrims visited Kedarnath on Friday while the total number of pilgrims visting the shrine was around 86,969.
As many 907 pilgrims visited Gangotri while 642 pilgrims visited Yamunotri, said Devendra Patwal, disaster management officer referring to the data released on Saturday morning.
The pilgrims at Rishikesh looked wary on taking up the yatra under such conditions. Mrityunjai Sharma from Dhampur Uttar Pradesh said, “We will wait for the rains to subside before embarking on the Char Dham Yatra.”