Scores of pilgrims got stuck at Badrinath due to the national highway getting blocked at lambagad and Benakuli following consistent rains in the region. According to official sources 83 pilgrims, including 70 Indians and 13 foreigners, were stuck at Badrinath on Sunday morning while by evening 30 pilgrims including 24 Indians and six foreigners were left at Badrinath with the rest of them having walked across the stretch of the highway impassable for traffic. The remaining pilgrims are also expected to leave Badrinath soon.
About 100 metres stretch of the national highway at Benakuli has subsided apart from which the highway at the lambagad slide zone has been blocked by debris. According to the Border Roads Organisation officials, once the weather clears the stretch of the highway at lambagad will be cleared in three hours and the stretch at Benakuli will also be opened for traffic soon. With the level of water in the Alaknanda river rising, the bridge spanning the river at lambagad has also started taking water.
It is pertinent to mention here that it has been raining consistently in this region with little respite since July 17. In view of the inclement weather, the authorities have temporarily halted the pilgrimage to Badrinath and Hemkund till the weather improves. It is worth mentioning here that the traffic on the national highway to Badrinath is often closed every year during the monsoon season due to debris at lambagad slide zone. This year too, the national highway has been blocked for vehicular traffic at lambagad for about two days. According to Colonel Nilesh Chandra of the
BRO, once the weather clears the national highway will be cleared at the two places where it is blocked within a few hours.Meanwhile, following incessant rain for the past couple of days, rainwater entered some buildings in lambagad causing much anxiety and inconvenience to the locals. On the other hand the rising waters of the Alaknanda are threatening the bridge established by the BRO last year across the river at lambagad. If the rains continue, it is being feared by the locals that the bridge could be washed away.