Heavy rainfall caused landslides and soil erosion at several points along the Kedarnath Highway in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district, disrupting traffic movement. Authorities immediately began clearing operations to restore connectivity on the route.
District Magistrate Vishal Mishra visited the affected areas to review the situation and instructed officials to ensure that road links were restored as quickly as possible.
Mishra said information about landslides at multiple locations was received late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning. Some of the affected spots were on the Kedarnath Highway, an important route used by Char Dham pilgrims travelling to Kedarnath.
He said the road had already been reopened for traffic due to the prompt response of the teams on the ground. However, a few large boulders are yet to be removed, and officials have been directed to speed up the clearance work.
The District Magistrate also asked officials to seek support from THDC for permanent slope-stabilisation measures. He further ordered an assessment of a nearby retaining wall so that steps can be taken to strengthen it and reduce the risk of future damage.
During his inspection, Mishra examined the impact of the ongoing rainfall. Landslides damaged several stretches of the highway, while riverbank erosion was reported at different locations. Near Agastyamuni, debris and large rocks had rolled down from the hills onto the road.
He directed National Highway officials to complete repair and restoration work at the earliest. He stressed that the safety of pilgrims and local commuters must remain the top priority while ensuring smooth traffic movement on the highway.
Continuous rainfall has also pushed the water levels of the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers above the warning mark. In response, the district administration has issued a high alert and asked officials to stay on maximum vigilance.
Residents living close to the riverbanks have been advised to move to safer places if necessary. All departments concerned have been instructed to remain prepared for any emergency situation.
Following the latest weather warning issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the administration has asked officials across the district to remain alert. Relief and rescue teams have been kept ready with all essential equipment to respond quickly to any natural disaster.
Also read: CM Dhami urges public to make Uttarakhand plastic-free
Follow us
