National highways to Gangotri, Yamunotri remain blocked
The National Highways to Gangotri and Yamunotri remained blocked on Sunday apart from various other roads especially in the mountainous regions of the State. However, a batch of 47 pilgrims left for Kedarnath from Sonprayag on Sunday morning.
According to information received from the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), in Rudraprayag district the Rishikesh-Kedarnath National Highway (NH-109) is open for traffic till Sonprayag. While the Srinagar-Khankra and Mayali-Guptkashi motor roads are open, the Guptkashi-Kalimath road is blocked by debris near Kavilta.
A total of 27 motor roads are blocked in the district. In the Chamoli district, the Rishikesh-Badrinath national highway (NH-58) was reopened for traffic by Sunday afternoon. Apart from this, a total of 30 motor roads are blocked in the district. The level of water in the Ganga in Haridwar at 4 pm on Sunday was 292.45 metres (danger level 294 metres) with the water discharge being 82,239 cusec. In the Uttarkashi district, the Rishikesh-Gangotri national highway (NH-108) is blocked at Gangnani by debris with the Border Roads Organisation working to clear the highway. The Rishikesh-Yamunotri National Highway (NH-94) is also blocked at Badiya and Silai Bend while the Vikasnagar-Badkot national highway, Chinyalisaud-Sukhakholi-Mussoorie-Dehradun road and Uttarkashi-lambgaon-Srinagar motor roads being open for traffic. The water level in the Bhagathi at 2 PM on Sunday was 1120.08 metres (danger level 1123 metres) based on the Tiloth bridge gauge report. Earlier, on Saturday 31 pilgrims visited Gangotri and 10 pilgrims visited Yamunotri.
In the Pauri district a total of 40 rural motor roads have remained closed to traffic due to blockages and other reasons while in Dehradun district at least 11 motor roads are still closed to traffic. Similarly, the number of blocked roads in other districts is 14 rural motor roads in Almora, seven in Nainital, five in Bageshwar, 15 in Tehri and more than a dozen in Pithoragarh. In Champawat district, where 29 motor roads are closed to traffic, the level of water in the Sharada at 3 PM was recorded at 220.15 metres (danger level 221.70 metres) with a discharge of 86,838 cusec.
Meanwhile, according to the State Meteorological Centre forecast, high altitude regions of Badrinath, Hemkund, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri along with Pithoragarh would experience cloudy skies and medium (10-35 mm) rain/rain with thunder on Monday and Tuesday. On August 6 and 8 the high altitude regions of Badrinath, Hemkund, Kedarnath and Pithoragar are forecast to receive medium to rather heavy (20-50 mm) rain/thundershowers while on August 7 these regions are forecast to experience medium to rather heavy (30-60 mm) rain/thundershowers.