Over 170 roads still blocked, fresh landslides occur

DEHRADUN: Fresh landslides were reported on Sunday in several areas of the state, blocking several major and minor roads and crushing houses in several villages near Dehradun. On the entire stretch of Dehradun-Mussoorie road, nine new waterfalls have formed overnight and landslides and debris blocking the road at many places. On Saturday, landslides and debris blocked the main road at three spots leading to long traffic snarls. Over 280 minor and major roads remained blocked in Garhwal and Kumaon regions due to landslides triggered by heavy rainfall. The Badrinath highway (NH 58) is blocked at Maithana and Bazpur since Saturday. The Rishikesh-Gangotri highway (NH 108) and Rishikesh-Yamnotri highway (NH 94) that remained blocked at several places were reopened on Sunday evening.
According to Sailesh Bagoli, secretary (in-charge), disaster management department, “About 284 small and large roads got blocked on Sunday but the agencies managed to restore traffic movement on 110 roads. Still, 174 roads are blocked and efforts are being made to reopen them as well.”
Bagoli informed that 356 JCBs have been pressed into service to remove debris from the blocked roads.
To restore connectivity in Kumaon region where many roads have caved in, Bagoli said, “We are sending bailey bridges and four folding bridges, along with four trolleys, so that alternative routes could be made where roads have got totally damaged.”
Around 69 roads, including 12 key roads, are still blocked in Chamoli district, and it is likely to take over two days to reopen all of them. “Except Nandprayag-Ghat motor road, all blocked roads in the district will be opened in the next two days,” said a senior official of disaster management department.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall lashed Vikasnagar area on Saturday night and Sunday morning triggering flow of debris which entered over 18 houses in Jeevangarh and Prithvipur. Large farm fields were also destroyed in the rains.
Heavyrainfall in the past two days has caused the water level to rise in most rivers of US Nagar. The strong currents of the rivers have triggered fear of floods in rural areas. Khatima and Sitarganj blocks are worst affected.