Continuous heavy rainfall has severely disrupted road connectivity across Chamoli district, with landslides and falling debris blocking several highways and rural roads. Traffic on the Karnaprayag-Nainisain Motor Road and several other key routes remained affected after heavy overnight rain triggered slope failures and road washouts.
Officials said nearly 30 metres of the Karnaprayag-Nainisain Motor Road at kilometre three was washed away after boulders and debris crashed down from the hillside, bringing traffic to a complete halt. Meanwhile, the Dhardungri-Maikhura-Sonla State Highway has remained closed to vehicular movement for the past two weeks due to persistent damage caused by landslides.
The Public Works Department (PWD) deployed machinery to clear the debris soon after receiving information. However, continuous rockfall from unstable slopes has created safety risks for JCB operators, delaying restoration work. Residents said the affected stretch has remained vulnerable for the past two years, posing a constant threat to commuters.
The 24-kilometre Karnaprayag-Nainisain route has been in poor condition due to the lack of road safety measures, delayed maintenance, and the absence of resurfacing work for nearly a decade. With the route remaining closed on Monday, commuters were diverted through the Simli-Dimmer Motor Road. Authorities are now attempting to cut through the hillside to restore traffic.
Kapiri Sangharsh Samiti president Khildev Singh said local residents have been protesting against the deteriorating road conditions and the diversion of traffic through the Dimmer-Simli route. He added that a public meeting has been scheduled at Jasyara on August 8 to discuss the issue and present villagers’ concerns.
Several other roads, including the Nandprayag-Ghat-Sutol Kanol and Simli-Sainu motor roads, also witnessed disruptions. Traffic remained suspended for four to six hours on routes such as Karnaprayag-Kalusain, Adibadri-Nauti, Malai Gauchar-Sidoli, Sugadband-Silpata, Karnaprayag-Nauti, Kansuwa-Chandpurgarhi, Bagoli-Syan, and Dimmer-Simli due to debris accumulation.
In the Simli region, heavy rainfall has damaged several link roads, affecting connectivity for rural communities. The Tatasu-Sain-Rayal-Bangdi-Kelapani-Sumalta Motor Road has remained blocked since Sunday night. According to Koladungri Gram Pradhan Sushil Khanduri, more than half a dozen villages have been facing severe transportation difficulties because of the prolonged closure.
The Simli-Dimmer Motor Road was also blocked for nearly four hours near Tatasu Bridge after a rockslide and erosion along the Pindar River. Although the PMGSY team later restored traffic by clearing the debris, the incident damaged the area’s drinking water pipeline, disrupting water supply to Tatasu, Vidyapeeth, Shiv Mandir, New Dimmer, and Taun villages.
PMGSY Junior Engineer Sudhir Kumar said continuous rainfall is causing repeated road blockages across the region. He added that departmental machinery is being used to clear debris and restore traffic, while permanent repair work will begin once weather conditions improve.
