Char Dham roads, which are being widened, have become more accident-prone as incessant rains continuing since Friday are bringing down huge debris on to the National Highway. As the weather department said that there would be no let-up in rains till Monday the officials have been put on high alert.
Badrinath and Kedarnath routes have been closed at Chopta due to landslide on Saturday. Chamoli district administration said that as a precautionary measure they had stopped the traffic some at safer places so as to ensure that the pilgrims could be safe.
In Uttarakashi, the Pilot Baba Ashram was reportedly washed away in rain on Saturday. On way to Kedarnath shrine, vehicular movement has remained stalled between Sonprayag and Gaurikund for the past four days while Kailash Mansarovar Yatra remained stalled for the past six days.
As the weather department is not in a position to assure that the rain would stop the district administrations are most unlikely to take chances as far as reopening of the stalled roads is concerned.
In Rudraprayag, Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers are flowing in full spate, it is learnt. Subsequently, the footfall of pilgrims has been coming down. The number of pilgrims presently stands at 1400 in Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri taken together.
In Kumaon region too, things are grim. Roads have been closed due to landslide at three places between Tanakpur and Tawaghat. Munsyari-madkot-Jauljivi road in Pithoragarh district was also closed.
Besides, a wooden bridge, which was connecting 13 villages, has been washed away in Munsyari region, deepening the rain-induced transport crisis.