3 days ago
Landslides Cut Off 12 Chamoli Villages, Damage Roads and Homes
Heavy rain caused landslides in Chamoli, Uttarakhand.
Large rocks fell onto a highway and blocked it.
At least 12 villages can no longer easily reach nearby places.
Food trucks carrying supplies are stuck on the road.
About 10,000 people live in the affected villages.
A bridge, houses and a school were damaged.
Residents say construction and tree cutting may have made the landslides worse.
Government workers are using machines to reopen and repair the roads.
Boulders and landslides blocked Uttarakhand’s Parkhal-Dundi highway, isolating at least 12 villages.
More than 10 vehicles carrying food, vegetables and milk are stranded.
The affected villages have a combined population of about 10,000 people.
A bridge at Badijat was destroyed, while houses and a school were damaged.
Public Works Department machinery has been deployed to clear and repair the roads.
- Who
- Residents of at least 12 Chamoli villages, local authorities and the Uttarakhand Public Works Department are affected or responding.
- What
- Landslides and falling boulders blocked the Parkhal-Dundi highway and damaged branch roads, a bridge, houses and a school.
- Where
- Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, including the Parkhal-Dundi highway, Badijat, Selakhola and Sawad villages.
- When
- The landslides began on Thursday; the Naina Devi Yatra is scheduled to start on September 20.
- Why
- Heavy rainfall, land subsidence and landslides caused the damage; residents also attributed worsening conditions to tunnel construction, road widening and tree felling.
Residents’ concerns
Official response
What worsened the landslides
Residents’ concerns
Residents said arbitrary tunnel construction, road widening and tree felling by government agencies may have contributed to land subsidence and falling boulders.
Official response
The Public Works Department official cited road-clearing and repair operations but did not provide a separate assessment of the causes.
Access and essential supplies
Residents’ concerns
Residents reported that movement between villages was completely blocked and that vehicles carrying food and other daily supplies were stranded.
Official response
The Public Works Department said machinery had been deployed to clear and repair the affected roads.
Upcoming pilgrimage
Residents’ concerns
A resident warned that the Naina Devi Yatra trail had been damaged by rainfall, land subsidence and landslides before its planned September 20 start.
Official response
The article reports road-repair efforts but does not state whether officials have assessed the pilgrimage’s status.
Key facts
- Villages cut off
- At least 12 villages
- People affected
- About 10,000 residents
- Stranded vehicles
- More than 10 vehicles carrying foodgrains, vegetables and milk
- Road damage
- The Parkhal-Dundi highway and branch roads including Dewal-Lohaganj and Dewal-Kheta were damaged.
- Bridge damage
- A reinforced cement concrete bridge at Badijat village was destroyed.
- Residential damage
- Land subsidence damaged seven houses in Selakhola; 17 buildings in Chhajgad had developed cracks the previous week.
- Government response
- Backhoe loaders and other machines were deployed to clear and repair the roads.
Quotes
Avanish Negi
Resident of Dewal along the Parkhal-Dundi highway
“Naina Devi Yatra will start on September 20, but the yatra trail has been damaged by rainfall, land subsidence and landslides in the last two days.”
telegraphindia.com
“But this time, their movement has been completely blocked.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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