Breaking: Monsoon Fury in Uttarakhand: Heavy rains trigger landslides, blocking over 150 roads and stalling the Char Dham Yatra

DEHRADUN, India – Relentless monsoon rains in Uttarakhand over the past 48 hours have triggered widespread landslides and flash floods, bringing life to a standstill and causing a major disruption to the annual Char Dham Yatra. Authorities have reported that over 150 roads across the hill state have been blocked, stranding thousands of pilgrims and tourists. The government has issued a high alert and deployed rescue teams to the affected areas.

The incessant downpour, a common feature of the Himalayan monsoon, has rendered key national and state highways impassable. The pilgrimage routes to the four sacred shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri are among the worst hit, with massive boulders and debris blocking the main arteries.

The Scale of the Disaster and Rescue Efforts

According to a statement from the State Disaster Management Authority, a total of 152 roads, including the Rishikesh-Badrinath, Rishikesh-Gangotri, and Rishikesh-Kedarnath national highways, have been closed. The most severe landslide occurred near the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway, where a 200-meter stretch of road was completely washed away.

Chief Minister has appealed to the public to remain calm and has confirmed that teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed. The immediate priority is to clear the roads and provide food and shelter to the stranded individuals. However, continuous rainfall is hampering the rescue and road-clearing operations.

Public Safety Alert

In light of the precarious situation, the state administration has appealed to pilgrims and tourists to postpone their travel to the hill districts. “We urge everyone planning to undertake the Char Dham Yatra to wait until the weather improves and the roads are declared safe for travel,” said a government spokesperson. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely, with a warning of further landslides and potential flash floods as the rains are forecast to continue for the next few days. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the region’s fragile ecosystem and the challenges of infrastructure in the Himalayan terrain.