A landslide after a cloudburst near Silai Bend on the Barkot-Yamunotri road in Uttarkashi swept away a hotel under construction, trapping nine workers. Sunday morning found the bodies of two workers in the fast-flowing Yamuna near Barkot. Seven remain missing, and 20 workers were moved to safety.
The cloudburst washed away sections of the Yamunotri National Highway, putting the Char Dham pilgrimage in jeopardy. According to the Uttarkashi District Magistrate's office, two landslides occurred, and the road near the affected area is gone, heavily obstructing ongoing rescue and relief operations. From the under-construction hotel on the Barkot-Yamunotri road in Uttarkashi, two among the missing nine workers have been found dead.
Rescue Operation Ongoing by NDRF and SDRF at the Scene
Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya noted the continuation of rescue operations, with deployments from police, SDRF, and NDRF at the site. The cloudburst was precipitated by significant rainfall in the region. Meanwhile, a red alert was issued in Uttarakhand for Sunday and Monday, signaling extremely high to very high rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning.
Poor Weather Suspends Char Dham Yatra for 24 Hours
With forecasts of significant to severe rainfall in Rishikesh, Roorkee, Ranikhet, Dehradun, and Uttarkashi, officials paused the Char Dham Yatra for the following day. Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey indicated, 'Given the heavy rainfall warnings, the Char Dham Yatra faces a 24-hour suspension. Police and administrative personnel are instructed to halt pilgrims at Haridwar.'. Simultaneously, relentless rains create significant obstacles for the hill state, including the blocked national highway near Nandprayag and Bhanerapani.
Read More: Cloudburst in Barkot Tehsil, Uttarkashi: SDRF and Police Teams Engaged in Rescue
Badrinath National Highway Obstructed, Kedarnath Journey Affected
According to a post from Chamoli Police on X, 'Badrinath National Highway is blocked near Nandprayag and Bhanerapani. Efforts are underway to clear the road.' Early this week in Rudraprayag, landslides and debris caused restrictions on the Sonpryag-Munkatia route, a key path for Kedarnath pilgrims, near the Sonprayag shuttle bridge and Munkatia sliding zone. Pilgrims are temporarily held for safety at Sonprayag and Gaurikund. Opening the National Highway near Nandprayag is crucial for Kedarnath pilgrims' road access.
