Uttarakhand: Landslide blocks Balwakot-Dharchula route, restoration work underway

A landslide blocked the Balwakot-Dharchula road in Dharchula near the Pithoragarh district’s border area on Sunday, according to a senior official.

The landslide also damaged the mobile and power poles on the 200-metre road, affecting mobile and electricity nerwork in the region, he said. Dharchula’s Joint Magistrate, Divesh Shashani, has ordered the company concerned to carry out the road restoration work on an immediate basis.

In addition, the administration also appealed to people to travel only after contacting disaster control department.
As the monsoon fury continued over the northwestern Himalayan region, several roads were blocked and scores of people were stuck and stranded due to landslides.
The Yamunotri Highway number 123 was also blocked on Saturday due to falling debris near Chami village in Pauri Tehsil of Garhwal District in Uttarakhand. As per officials, dozens of vehicles were left stuck on both sides of the road.

Similarly, the Badrinath National Highway was closed near Pagal Nala and Pipaloti due to debris that had fallen off in several spots.
The National Disaster Response Force’s flood rescue effort continues in flood-affected parts of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Delhi, where torrential rains and the discharge of water from barrages have resulted in historic floods, according to an official statement.