Badrinath national highway is becoming landslide prone zone

Recent ground subsidence and subsequent landslides at various locations along the national highway to Badrinath have sparked growing concern over the upcoming annual pilgrimage to the holy shrine, scheduled to take place in just four months.

Badrinath Landslide

In the past 24 hours, the region has witnessed a second landslide, caused by heavy rain, which washed away a crucial section of National Highway 7 near Chhinka in Chamoli district, stranding numerous tourists.

Environmental activist Atulsati took to social media to express his concern, This morning, debris in Chhinka of Chamoli has blocked the highway once again, causing the closure of the road for over 20 hours just a day ago. This route has emerged as a new landslide area. Additionally, the road widening project for the entire highway under the Chardham initiative has led to the formation of numerous landslide-prone areas. The plan, which aimed to ensure accessibility throughout the year, not only failed in its purpose but also poses future dangers due to the weakening of the mountain," expressed Atulsati, an environmental activist, on social media.

The landslides have severely affected the pilgrims' journey to Badrinath. The accumulation of dirt debris on the road prompted the police to begin clearing work with heavy machinery. As a result, the road has been temporarily blocked, forcing pilgrims to stay in their vehicles on both sides of the road. Once the mud-cleaning operation is finished, the police will facilitate the resumption of road traffic.

In an effort to ensure smooth traffic flow and maintain security, police have set up barricades at Barhi and Chamoli, preventing traffic congestion until the ground clearance is complete. Despite the best efforts of highway officials to reopen the highway, the continued fall of small rocks from the hills has made clearance operations difficult.

Chardham yatra faces landslide concerns

The ongoing Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand, which attracts a large number of pilgrims visiting Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, takes place in the middle of the monsoon season. Consequently, landslide incidents have seen a noticeable increase, particularly on the national highway connecting the four dhams. The government and administration have sincerely requested devotees to keep up to date on weather conditions before embarking on the yatra.

Experts have issued dire warnings about the Char Dham road project, which began four years ago to establish year-round connectivity to the pilgrimage centers of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. These ecologically sensitive areas have seen the activation of new landslide zones since the start of the project. Experts argue that the construction work, intended to facilitate the rapid movement of armed forces along the border with China, has the potential to destabilize the fragile mountain ecosystem.

As the situation worsens, large cracks have started to appear in people's fields along a major part of the Badrinath National Highway. These cracks continue to widen daily, raising further concerns for the region.

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