Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Uttarakhand Villagers Brave Landslide, Cross Road on Excavator Bucket
In a place called Uttarakhand, in India, there is a road built through the mountains.
Heavy rain caused a landslide, which is when rocks, mud and dirt slide down the hill and block the road.
Big rocks and mud are still falling, so it is dangerous to walk across.
But people who live nearby need to get to shops, food and doctors.
So they are using a big construction machine called an excavator to cross the blocked part.
The machine has a big bucket, and people stand or sit in it while it carries them across.
Even children, women and old people have to use this exciting but scary ride.
The villagers say it is very risky and someone could get badly hurt.
About 8,000 people are affected because they cannot use the road.
The villagers are asking the government to fix the road quickly and keep it safe.
Continuous rainfall triggered a landslide near Gamri Gad that repeatedly blocked the Deval-Van motor road in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district.
Villagers, including children, women and elderly residents, are using the bucket of a Pokland excavator to cross the debris-covered stretch.
Heavy rain continues to send debris and boulders down the hillside, completely halting traffic and leaving several vehicles stuck in mud.
The road closure has affected around 8,000 people in villages beyond Gamri Gad, who struggle to reach Deval for medical treatment, food and essential work.
Residents call the excavator arrangement extremely risky and have urged the administration to restore traffic and find a permanent solution.
- Who
- Villagers in villages beyond Gamri Gad, including children, women and elderly residents, in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district
- What
- Used the bucket of a Pokland excavator to cross a landslide-blocked road after debris, boulders and mud covered the route
- When
- During the monsoon, amid continuous rainfall that triggered repeated landslides
- Where
- The Deval-Van motor road near Gamri Gad in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand
- Why
- The landslide left no safe way to cross the stretch, while residents needed to reach Deval for medical treatment, food supplies and essential work
- Location
- Deval-Van motor road, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand
- Affected Road Section
- Near Gamri Gad
- Cause
- Landslide with debris, boulders and mud from continuous rainfall
- Affected Population
- Around 8,000 people in villages beyond Gamri Gad
- Crossing Method
- Bucket of a Pokland excavator
- Impact
- Traffic completely halted; several vehicles stuck in mud
- Current Status
- Efforts under way to clear the route; no permanent solution yet
- Residents' Demand
- Make the road safe and restore regular traffic as soon as possible