Home / Environment / Dayara Bugyal Erosion Threatens Vital Highway Bridge
Dayara Bugyal Erosion Threatens Vital Highway Bridge
28 Jul
Summary
- Fissures widen at Dayara Bugyal, sending debris into Papadgad river.
- Soil erosion raises riverbed, increasing risk to Papadgad Bridge.
- Conservation efforts scaled up amid renewed subsidence concerns.
Fissures and gullies at the high-altitude Dayara Bugyal meadow have widened significantly due to recent rainfall. This increased erosion is channeling debris into the Papadgad river, raising concerns about the safety of the Papadgad Bridge, a critical structure on the Gangotri National Highway. Locals have warned that continuous soil erosion from the protected alpine meadow is elevating the riverbed, thereby increasing the risk to the bridge.
Land subsidence has been an ongoing issue at Dayara Bugyal for several years. The cracks have notably enlarged in recent seasons, particularly in the Naheta and Chilpada areas. During rainfall, the resulting debris flow impacts not only the meadow but also downstream villages and highway infrastructure. Immediate concerns focus on the material accumulating in the Papadgad river, especially near the bridge.
Previous conservation measures, including jute coir nets and check dams, showed encouraging results in 2020. However, fresh subsidence and landslides were reported in 2024 and 2025, prompting calls for expanded conservation work. A detailed action plan is now being prepared with expert institutions to implement conservation measures on a larger scale in vulnerable areas. This includes clearing accumulated riverbed material after the monsoon and inspecting the bridge's abutment.
