Heavy rainfall triggers landslides, blocks Badrinath highway

Continuous heavy rainfall led to landslides in multiple areas of Chamoli district, disrupting the Badrinath highway (National highway-54) for over 12 hours on Sunday. The affected regions included Chinka, Kameda, and Pagal Nala, where recurring landslides and falling rocks posed significant challenges.Hundreds of pilgrims en route to the revered Badrinath shrine found themselves stranded along the highway due to these adverse weather conditions. Chamoli police issued a travel advisory, urging pilgrims to plan their journeys while considering the weather forecast.After dedicated efforts, the highway at Kameda was reopened for small vehicles around 2 pm on Sunday, offering some relief to the stranded travellers. The Pagal Nala stretch was also cleared and reopened around 5 pm. However, later in the evening, another obstruction occurred at Langasu, reported by Chamoli police.Nand Kishore Joshi, the district disaster management officer in Chamoli, reassured that traffic has been restored, with vehicles allowed to move through Kameda and Pagal Nala under controlled conditions.The regional meteorological centre reported varying levels of rainfall in the region, with Chamoli city receiving 40mm, Karnaprayag 50mm, Gauchar 50mm, and Pokhari experiencing 70mm of rainfall. The adverse weather conditions and resulting landslides highlight the challenges of travel in this region, particularly during the monsoon season.