Inclement weather and incessant rain has been proving one of the major reasons for long bumper to bumper traffic jams along Char Dham Yatra route despite the fact that more than two months had passed since the natural calamities struck the State.
Among the worst route is Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines in Uttarkashi district and Badrinath shrine in Chamoli district of State. Even after assuring the residents that no stone would be left unturned for ensuring the smooth flow of traffic along the Char Dham Yatra route, more steps are sought by the municipality, district administration, PWD and BRO for declaring the roads open for the small and heavy vehicular traffic.
Well established department sources revealed that Nalupani, Dharasuband, Suakholi, lambgaon Uttarkashi is among the worst affected due to repeated landslides and mudslides in the region. Besides, the washed away of major part of Jogath route near village Hadiyad was reported to be completely washed away in the incessant rain and Dichli-Gamripatti route is also reported to be damaged.
The callous approach of the district administration is also seen in Chamoli district, Garhwal division of the State. Residents lamented that the department has failed to repair the link routes and major connecting routes for ensuring the smooth flow of traffic in the district. Department sources revealed that the major routes which are Pokhri, Ghat, Dewal, Tharali, Naryanbaggad, Joshimath is reported to be repeated blocked on regular intervals in the region.
Among the other worst affected routes are Gopeshwar-Pokhari and Pipalkoti-Mathjhetha routes in the district which continuously facing the brunt of the natural calamites for the last three months. Department sources that the more than 75 villages are reported to be disconnected from the main route as Chamoli-Sartoli and
Ghat-Nandprayag-Dhasoli and Sainjilaga-Maikot Bambroo routes have been regularly witnessing the mudslides and landslides with the advent of monsoon season in the State. After lamenting that the repeated landslides and mudslides along the Char Dham Yatra route has been hampering the department efforts for ensuring the vehicular movement of the traffic, one of the department sources who wished anonymity told The Pioneer that that the department has been using all efforts for repairing the roads along the route.
He said that mud and boulders have been removed from the centre of the roads on regular intervals for resuming the flow of traffic along the Char Dham Yatra route.