Landslide on Uttarkashi-Gangotri highway; Road blocked for 2 hours

The Uttarkashi-Gangotri highway was blocked near Maneri police station limits on Thursday due to a landslide. State Disaster Response Force and Police were informed and their teams reached immediately. A truck and an earthmover machine of the Border Roads Organization (BRO) were damaged in the incident. However, no casualties have been reported. 

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Uttarkashi-Gangotri Highway Blocked

On September 25, a team of BRO officials were working on the Uttarkashi-Gangotri Highway to broaden the highway stretch. During this, at around 4:45 in the evening, a huge chunk of rock suddenly slipped down and struck a truck and the pokeland machine. The machines were heavily damaged but fortunately, there was no loss of life. Due to the landslide, the highway was blocked and remained shut for a few hours which resulted in a jam of tourist vehicles on both ends on the accident. The SDRF team and police reached the incident as soon as it was reported. The BRO teams immediately arranged a task force to clear the highway. After around one hour and forty-five minutes, the jam was cleared and the highway was operational again. 

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Uttarkashi- Gangotri highway prone to landslides

The Gangotri-Uttarkashi highway has always been prone to landslides with debris of rocks and mountains frequently blocking the highway. The highway, which is a significant route for various pilgrimages like Gangotri, Yamunotri and Kashi often leads to the stranding of these pilgrims due to the frequent landslides and roadblocks. Not only does this affect the highway, but several other state highways and district roadways are affected by overcrowding of vehicles that are diverted from the Uttarkashi-Gangotri highway. Uttarakhand, also known as the 'Land of Gods' due to numerous Hindu temples and pilgrimage centres found throughout the state which attracts a lot of pilgrims from the entire country across the year.