Although Char Dham Yatra was recently resumed in the State, but the condition of roads along the Yatra circuit is consistently deteriorating due to inclement weather in higher parts of the State.
Department officials said that extra work force is being placed for ensuring smooth flow of traffic along the route. However, officials also expressed their concern over the inclement weather in the mountainous parts of the State as it is hampering the department efforts for ensuring the smooth flow of vehicular traffic along the Char Dham Yatra route.
The roads leading to all the four shrines especially on Gangotri and Yamunotri have developed cracks and the flow of traffic is reported to be disruption on regular intervals.
Sources confirmed that the fresh landslides and mudslides near Dunda, Bhatwadi, Hanumanchatti, lambaggad, Patalganga, Thirangu, Harshil, Nalupaani, Hailgugad, Gangpaani, Dabrani, Sukki, Sunagar have been reported along the Char Dham Yatra route thus the vehicular flow of traffic is reported to be disrupted.
The same problem is being faced at Dharasu, Thunera, Kauthnaur, Raadi, Jardakhad, Tismela and Kiliyasain etc. The latest data compiled by the department concerned clearly highlighted that Tilawara-Mayali-Guptakashi road and Rishikesh- Kedarnath National Highway (NH 109) upto Sonprayag is open for the vehicular flow of traffic.
Additionally, Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway (NH 58) is also declared open for vehicles except heavy vehicles and Rishikesh - Yamunotri National Highway (NH 94) is also open for light vehicles.
Among the worst affected route along the Char Dham Yatra is Rishikesh-Gangotri National Highway (NH 108) which is blocked near Nalupani after experiencing fresh landslides along the Char Dham Yatra route.
Sources confirmed that the Jawadi by-pass route is also reported to be badly damaged in Rudraprayag district of the State and long bumper to bumper jams have become a regular feature in the district.
It is noteworthy that roads and connecting routes in Uttarkashi, Tehri, Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts of the state are facing the maximum brunt of the inclement weather in the higher parts of the state and the department has been struggling round the clock for ensuring the disruption free vehicular flow of traffic along the Char Dham Yatra route.
One of the department sources who wished anonymity told The Pioneer that the stern instructions were already released to officials to repair roads especially main connecting routes for ensuring disrupted free flow of traffic along Char Dham Yatra route. He told that better coordination has been established with different Government agencies for carrying repair work along the Char Dham Yatra route.
He also expressed his concern over the incessant rains which have been continuously hampering the department efforts for carrying repair work along the Char Dham Yatra route and assured that the blocked roads would be declare open for the vehicular flow of traffic, once the weather clears in the coming days.