Chamoli (Uttarakhand), July 10: After hours of disruption due to a landslide caused by heavy rainfall, traffic has resumed on the Badrinath National Highway near Nandprayag in Chamoli district, according to local police authorities.
The blockage occurred following debris falling from nearby hills amid intense monsoon rains that have affected several parts of Uttarakhand in the past few days.
In an official update on X (formerly Twitter), Chamoli Police confirmed:
“The blocked road near Nandprayag has been cleared.”
Route Cleared Early Morning
The affected portion near Kameda on the highway was successfully cleared and reopened for traffic at 6:35 AM today.
A previous update had warned travelers of blockages on the Rudraprayag–Badrinath route, which also saw heavy landslides due to ongoing rainfall. Restoration efforts are actively underway in these areas.
Travelers Affected by Road Closures
Dilpreet, a passenger en route to Rishikesh, spoke with ANI about the situation:
“We were going to Rishikesh when the landslide happened. We have been stuck here for the last four hours. Stones and debris have fallen here. The cranes have come to clear the route.”
Rainfall Data and IMD Warnings
As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD):
- Chamoli recorded 19.2 mm of rainfall.
- Rudraprayag received 20.4 mm on Wednesday.
The IMD has issued a red alert for:
- Extremely heavy rainfall (≥21 cm) in southeast Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, and south Chhattisgarh.
- Very heavy rainfall over Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Tripura, West Bengal, and Jharkhand on July 9.
- Continued alerts for East Rajasthan from July 11 to 13.
Risk of Landslides Remains
Due to persistent rainfall, localized landslides, mudslides, landsinks, and road slips are likely in hilly regions, the Met Department warned.