Uttarkashi: Continuous rainfall in Uttarakhand’s Yamunotri valley has severely affected road connectivity and disrupted the Char Dham Yatra. A nearly 100-metre stretch of the Yamunotri National Highway was washed away near Syanachatti on Thursday evening, while continuous rockfalls near Hanuman Chatti have further worsened the situation.
According to officials, heavy rain has triggered landslides and caused debris and boulders to fall repeatedly from surrounding hillsides onto the highway. As a result, restoration work has been significantly hampered, and vehicular movement on the route remains completely suspended.
The damaged highway has created major difficulties for both local residents and pilgrims travelling to the Yamunotri shrine. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, but persistent rainfall continues to obstruct repair operations and pose safety risks to workers.
Officials from the National Highways authority and the district administration are stationed at the affected locations to assess the damage and coordinate restoration efforts. However, ongoing rockfalls have made it unsafe to deploy heavy machinery continuously.
Executive Engineer of the National Highways, Manoj Rawat, said that continuous rainfall and frequent debris movement from the hills are making highway restoration extremely challenging. He added that repair work will be accelerated once weather conditions improve.
The administration has urged pilgrims and commuters to avoid unnecessary travel on the Yamunotri route until conditions become safe. The incident once again highlights the vulnerability of Himalayan highways during the monsoon season and the recurring challenges faced in maintaining uninterrupted connectivity to the Char Dham pilgrimage routes.
