The Rishikesh-Badrinath national highway number 58 could not be opened to traffic due to heavy rains continuing in this region of the State.
The national highway to Badrinath remaining closed for traffic at the lambagarh slide zone has increased the inconvenience for both pilgrims and local travelers. The highway has been closed to traffic due to landslide debris falling on the road on Thursday evening. Due to the rain which was continuing in the area, the landslide debris could not be removed to clear way for the vehicular traffic on Friday.
While the national highway officials were reported to be awaiting a pause in the rainfall to clear the road of debris to resume movement of traffic, the pilgrims to and from Badrinath were said to be taking the alternate route. It is pertinent to mention here that as is often the case during instances of rainfall especially when heavy, the slide zone at lambagarh was activated late on Thursday evening. This led to the national highway being blocked for traffic. According to the officials, some issues were being faced as the work for clearning the debris and reopening the national highway for traffic was being delayed due to the continous rainfall being experienced in the area. As the rain continued, debris were reported to be falling down on and off at the slide zone, making work unfeasible to undertake. In the meantime, the pilgrims and travelers on their way to the temple township of Badrinath were made to halt by the authorities at Joshimath, Govindghat and Pandukeshwar. They will be made to stay at these points till the national highway to Badrinath is cleared of debris and reopened for traffic. The sub divisional magistrate Yogendra Singh informed on Friday that 145 pilgrims had gone to Badrinath while 250 pilgrims had returned from Badrinath. About 2,559 pilgrims were reported to be in Badrinath, awaiting the clearance of debris and reopening of the national highway. Other pilgrims have also been made to halt at secure locations till the road is reopened for vehicular traffic, he added.