Uttarakhand: Badrinath pilgrimage gets disrupted after heavy showers wash away part of highway

By Shahnaz Last updated Jul 25, 2023

Image Source: PTI Uttarakhand has been receiving heavy rains for the past few weeks

The pilgrimage to the Badrinath temple was disrupted on Monday after a 100-metre section of the Gauchar-Badrinath highway at Kamra was washed away by incessant rain overnight.

According to an official statement, the route has now been closed for at least 2-3 days while efforts are underway to repair the highway for traffic movement.

A portion of the road collapsed, causing five vehicles to be buried under the debris. The Uttarakhand Emergency Operations Center said that luckily, no one was injured in the incident. The debris is now being cleared.

Rudraprayag Superintendent of Police Vishakha Ashok Bhadane said vehicles bound for Badrinath and Karnaprayag areas have been advised to take alternative routes. Small vehicles were diverted to Karnaprayag or Gopeshwar via Rudraprayag, Belni Bridge, Collectorate, Saterkhal, Durgadhar, Chopta, Mohankhal and Pokhri.

Meanwhile, the Badrinath National Highway in Chamoli district was blocked at various places due to landslides triggered by heavy rains last week. The Karnaprayag-Nainital National Highway was also closed for traffic due to the landslide.

(with PTI inputs)

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