Dehradun, Aug 31: With nature’s fury continuing in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, heavy rain brought down debris from a boulder collapse, blocking the Badrinath Highway at five locations. The boulder collapse near Joshimath and Animath brought debris onto the road.
The highway has been blocked at Pagal Nala, Nandprayag, Bhanerpani, Kameda and Chatwa Peepal. All vehicles have been stopped at safe places. A motorable bridge on the Jyotirmath-Malari highway in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district got washed away, Chamoli Police said. Taking to the social media platform X, Chamoli Police said: “Badrinath National Highway is blocked at Pagalnala, Nandprayag, Bhanerpani, Kameda, Chatwa Pipal. Jyotirmath-Malari Road is completely blocked for traffic after the bridge in Tamak Nala was washed away. In the Tharali area, the road is blocked in Kotdeep.” Heavy rain has snapped connectivity to several areas in the border area of the Niti Valley. Notably, on Friday, two people went missing after a cloudburst struck Mopata village under Dewal Tehsil of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. Two other persons sustained injuries in the incident. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, “Debris flow after the cloudburst has blocked areas, leaving several people stranded.” He said that the local administration is conducting relief and rescue operations on a war footing.