Uttarakhand: Badrinath highway blocked at multiple locations in Chamoli district

Chamoli (Uttarakhand) [India], September 13 (ANI): The Badrinath National Highway has been blocked at several points, disrupting traffic in Chamoli district. The Chamoli Police reported the incident on Friday morning.

In a post on X, the police said, “In the district, the Badrinath National Highway is blocked at Kameda (Gauchar), Nandprayag (Chamoli), and Chhinka (Chamoli).” However, the police later added via their social media handle, “The blocked road at Chhinka has been opened for traffic.”

This incident comes just days after the highway, which was blocked at Pagalnala and Nandprayag last Sunday, was reopened for all vehicles. The Chamoli Police, in a social media post on X, had confirmed the reopening, stating, “The blocked road at Pagalnala has been opened for all types of vehicles.”

However, traffic movement has once again been affected. The Chamoli Police had earlier informed about the frequent disruptions due to landslides and debris on the highway, posting, “The Badrinath National Highway is blocked due to debris at Pagalnala (Jyotirmath) and Nandprayag (Chamoli).”

Earlier, the district administration in Uttarkashi proposed relocating families living in the buffer zone near Varunavat mountain, where continuous landslides pose a danger. The region is prone to landslides.

Uttarkashi District Magistrate Dr. Meharban Singh Bisht explained the situation, recalling a similar landslide in 2003. He said, “There was a landslide here in 2003, after which comprehensive treatments were done. Now, after 2003, the landslide has occurred at a different point and it has caused some damage to the area.”

He further added that the ongoing rains have worsened the situation, causing debris to slide down along with rainwater. “Some people stay nearby, so we have taken precautionary measures to shift them until the monsoon season is over. We have made arrangements for those families to stay,” he added.

To address the issue, a technical team was dispatched to survey the area, and an advanced team, including experts and senior officials, is expected to take further action. “We hope that some reasonable measures will be taken after that,” Bisht said.