A bridge over Ojri on the national highway to Yamunotri in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand was destroyed because of heavy rain in the area on Monday, officials said. The accident that happened in the morning has affected road connectivity to Yamunotri, the Uttarkashi Police said, and the restoration process is in progress. In the meanwhile, heavy rains pounded sections of Rudraprayag district in the morning.
Earlier, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a warning on Sunday of heavy rain in Uttarakhand for four days. Heavy rain has been forecast in districts like Uttarkashi, Tehri, Bageshwar, Dehradun, and Rudraprayag. Heavy rain in Rudraprayag and the surrounding areas of Uttarakhand has augmented the water flow in the Alaknanda River.
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But despite the heavy rains and enhanced flow of water, the river is continuing to flow below the danger mark. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today conducted an aerial inspection of the disaster-struck Silai Band and Ojri Band sections of the Yamunotri road in Uttarkashi district. Heavy rains in recent times had resulted in parts of the national highway being swept away, snapping connectivity with the pilgrimage destination. "The Yamunotri National Highway is cut off at two locations between Silai Band and Ojri as some parts of the highway are swept away. Restoring the road may be time-consuming," Uttarkashi Police stated.
Rudraprayag Police also posted the alert for rain on X, writing, "Government of India Geological Survey Department has given an alert on 7th July 2025 for a high possibility of landslides in Tehri, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli districts. Besides, the India Meteorological Department has predicted heavy to very heavy rain in Uttarkashi and Rudraprayag districts."
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday conducted an aerial survey of the rain-hit areas of Uttarkashi district, officials said.
Dhami directed officials to assess the situation on the ground and review the ongoing relief and rescue operations. The chief minister said the state government stands with every affected person in this hour of crisis and asserted that all efforts are being made to provide timely help to those in need.
On June 29, two labourers working at an under-construction hotel along the Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarkashi were killed while seven went missing after a landslide triggered by a cloudburst hit their campsite. Earlier, on June 23, two pilgrims were killed after being hit by a landslide that occurred near the 9 Kainchi Bhairav Mandir on the trek route to the Yamunotri temple in the district.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Centre of Dehradun has forecast heavy to very heavy rains for the Tehri, Uttarkashi and Rudraprayag districts during the next 24 hours. The Geological Survey of India has issued a warning of landslides in four districts— Tehri, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli.
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