Uttarakhand Rocked by Landslides: Char Dham Routes Blocked

Uttarakhand experienced heavy rainfall on Wednesday, leading to significant landslides that obstructed sections of the Char Dham pilgrimage routes and other major roadways. In Mussoorie, a large boulder dislodged from a hillside and struck a government residential unit within the Sub-Divisional Magistrate office complex. The incident caused damage to the structure, and a woman sustained minor injuries from falling debris, though her family reported a miraculous escape.

Road traffic was severely impacted across several districts. In Uttarkashi, the Yamunotri National Highway was temporarily blocked by landslides and falling boulders, though it was cleared by mid-morning. Tehri district saw six motor roads blocked, and significant debris on National Highway 707A required heavy machinery for clearance. Infrastructure damage extended to irrigation channels and a pedestrian pathway in Jaunpur tehsil, with a drinking water pipeline also affected in Parogi village.

The state recorded rainfall significantly above normal, with Dehradun experiencing a 150% excess. Rivers like the Alaknanda and Mandakini in Rudraprayag district rose alarmingly, approaching their danger and warning levels. Authorities initiated public announcements to caution residents about venturing near affected water bodies and high-risk areas.

In response to an orange alert issued by the India Meteorological Department for heavy to very heavy rainfall on Thursday, authorities ordered the closure of all schools and Anganwadi centres in Dehradun, Chamoli, and Bageshwar districts. Yellow alerts are in effect for several other districts, warning of thunderstorms and lightning.