Uttarakhand Highway Shut After Boulder Falls Amid Heavy Rains

🚧 Uttarakhand Highways Paralyzed as Boulder Falls and Landslides Trigger Widespread Disruption

In Uttarakhand, heavy rains have caused turmoil, blocking vital routes with landslides and debris, forcing the closure of several highways. Five important points along the Badrinath National Highway—Pagalnala, Bhanerpani, Nandprayag, Kameda (Gauchar), and Animath near Joshimath—have been closed due to the severe impact. There have also been reports of bottlenecks in Sirobgadh in Rudraprayag 1 and Jilasoo, Gulabkoti, and Chatwapipal in Chamoli. Four sections of the Kedarnath Highway between Banswara (Syalsaur) and Kund to Chopta are also affected.

🏔️ 1. Cause of the Disaster | Hidnu Metro 

Highways were covered in stones and debris as a result of landslides and mountain collapses brought on by the unrelenting rain. Whole road segments are impassable due to rock and muck lying beneath them, as demonstrated by visual evidence 1. The weather service has issued an orange alert for Champawat, Haridwar, Pithoragarh, Udham Singh Nagar, and Uttarkashi, and a red alert for Bageshwar, Chamoli, Dehradun, and Rudraprayag due to severe to very heavy rains.

⚠️ 2. Impact on Pilgrims and Locals

Along with local commuters, the shutdown have left hundreds of pilgrims en route to Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib stranded 1. Before starting a journey, pilgrims are recommended by authorities to check the state of the roads and to stay informed from official sources. 1. Due to blocked roads 5, pilgrims have also been halted at Dharchula during the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra.

🚑 3. Damage and Casualties

Eleven people are missing and six people have died as a result of the heavy rains in Uttarakhand, mostly in districts 1, 2, 3, and 4. Events consist of:Bageshwar: House destruction causes two fatalities and three unaccounted for in Kapkot 1.

Chamoli: Two people were killed and one injured when a house in Mopata was buried by a landslide.

Rudraprayag: Eight people are missing in Chenagad 1 and a woman was slain in Jakholi.

Pithoragarh: When a boulder crashed on his house 48, a 12-year-old boy perished.

🚒 4. Relief and Rescue Efforts

NDRF, SDRF, DDRF, and revenue police teams are engaged in relief operations, though broken roads are hampering access 1. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is working to restore connectivity on critical axes like Uttarkashi-Dharasu-Gangotri and Joshimath-Malari 5. Efforts include:

• Clearing debris and installing temporary structures like “Hasco Box” footpaths 3.

• Airdropping ration and essential supplies to cut-off areas 3.

• Evacuating stranded individuals to safer areas

• 📍 5. Other Affected Highways

  • Gangotri Highway: Blocked near Naluna due to landslides 3.

  • Yamunotri Highway: Closed for 12 days due to road damage from a cloudburst 3.

  • Pauri-Kotdwar-Meerut Highway: A boulder crash killed two and injured four 6.

  💎 6. Official Advisory

  Authorities urge travelers to avoid non-essential travel to landslide-prone areas 16. Police have barricaded risky zones, such as the Ganga ghats in Rishikesh, and are patrolling for public safety 8. For real-time updates, refer to the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) or local police advisories 1.

  🌧️ 7. Broader Context: Climate Change and Vulnerability

  Uttarakhand’s fragility is exacerbated by climate change, which accelerates glacial melting and increases the frequency of extreme weather events 7. Unregulated construction, deforestation, and infrastructure projects on unstable slopes further amplify disaster risks 7. Experts emphasize the need for better terrain-specific zoning, early warning systems, and community-centered adaptation strategies to build resilience 7.

• Uttarakhand Highway Shut After Boulder Falls Amid Heavy Rains

  Continuous heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand has once again triggered landslide threats, forcing the closure of a key highway after a massive boulder came crashing down. The incident took place on Saturday morning along a busy stretch connecting the hill districts, bringing traffic to a complete standstill.

  According to officials, the boulder dislodged due to relentless rainfall over the past 48 hours, leaving commuters stranded on both sides of the route. Rescue teams and the Public Works Department (PWD) rushed to the site to assess the damage and begin clearance work. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, but authorities have advised travelers to avoid unnecessary journeys until conditions improve.

  The closure of the highway has disrupted the movement of vehicles carrying essential goods, causing concern among locals and tourists. Police have diverted traffic through alternate routes, though these remain congested due to increased load.

  Uttarakhand, prone to frequent landslides during monsoon, has been witnessing heavy showers, raising the risk of further blockages. Officials have urged residents and travelers to stay updated with weather alerts and exercise caution. Efforts are underway to restore normal traffic at the earliest, but continuous rain may delay reopening.

• Here’s a sample table of dangerous landslide-prone areas in Uttarakhand (based on recurring incidents during monsoon):

  District	Dangerous Area / Stretch	Reason for Risk	Current Status
  Rudraprayag	Kedarnath Highway (NH-107)	Frequent landslides, boulders fall	Partial closures in heavy rain
  Chamoli	Joshimath–Badrinath Road (NH-7)	Fragile mountain slopes	High-risk during monsoon
  Tehri Garhwal	Gangotri Highway (NH-34)	Rockfalls, cloudbursts	Landslide-prone
  Pithoragarh	Dharchula–Tawaghat–Lipu Lekh Road	Narrow hilly terrain, heavy rain	Disruptions reported
  Uttarkashi	Yamunotri Highway (NH-123)	Flash floods, soil erosion	Blocked during rainfall
  Nainital	Kaladhungi–Nainital Road	Loose rocks, steep slopes	Regular slips in rains
  Almora	Ranikhet–Almora Road	Soil erosion, minor landslides	Moderate risk

  official traffic advisories & highway alerts?