Two persons died and one was injured in two road accidents on Tuesday of which one was reported to have been caused by debris falling from the mountain above in the Rudraprayag district. The other mishap involving a tanker of the Border Roads Organisation occurred in the Tehri district.
According to information from the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), at about 1:20 pm on Tuesday, one dumper with registration number UK 13CA 0812 was being driven from Mayali to Bajira when debris falling from the mountain above caused the vehicle to fall down 100 metres off the road near Katai Chowk in Jakholi block.
Of the two persons in the vehicle, one was killed while the other was taken to the community health centre at Mayali for treatment. As per the Rudraprayag district emergency operation centre, the Rishikesh-Kedarnath national highway number 109 is blocked to traffic near Doliyadevi temple with efforts being undertaken to reopen the road. The bridle path from Gaurikund to Kedarnath is open.
In the Tehri district, a tanker of the Border Roads Organisation being driven from Narendranagar to the DGP camp met with an accident near Ananda bypass, tumbling about 300 metres down a ravine killing its driver and sole occupant Vikram Singh Rawat hailing from the Agar Gilohi village in Agrakhal Tehsil.
A total of 18 rural motor roads are also blocked in Tehri district with efforts stated to be underway to reopen them. In the Chamoli district, the Rishikesh-Badrinath national highway number 58 remained blocked to traffic at the lambagad slide zone with the BRO stated to be undertaking efforts to clear the stretch for traffic. Additionally, a total of 20 motor roads were reported blocked to traffic in the Chamoli district.
Meanwhile, in the Uttarkashi district, the Rishikesh-Gangotri national highway number 108 was reported to have been cleared for traffic up to Gangotri on Tuesday evening while the Rishikesh-Yamunotri national highway number 94 was reported to be open for small and big vehicles up to Janakichatti.
Apart from these, a total of 16 motor roads were reported blocked in Uttarkashi district. In the Pithoragarh district, 150 disaster affected families are reportedly staying in eight relief camps set by the authorities.
The Tawaghat-Kanjyoti-Sobla motor road has remained blocked near Khet while the Tawaghat-Pangla-Garwadhar motor road is also blocked near the bridge with efforts underway to clear it.