The Badrinath Highway, which was blocked at Banerapani due to heavy landslide debris and boulders, has been cleared for traffic. Nearly 500 stranded pilgrims and locals stuck on both sides of the highway were safely sent towards their destinations. However, officials cautioned that rainfall could once again trigger disruptions at the same spot.
Large amounts of loose debris and rocks are still hanging on the hillside, posing a risk of fresh blockages. Pilgrims expressed relief after the route was restored, as they had been stuck since morning when the highway near Pipalkoti was suddenly blocked by falling rocks and mud. Heavy machinery of NHIDCL worked continuously in rain to remove the debris and reopen the stretch.
Meanwhile, in Uttarkashi, the Border Roads Organisation managed to clear the road at Dharali, allowing vehicle movement. But restoring the submerged highway near the lake formed in Harsil remains a major challenge for the authorities.
