Landslides block roads to Gangotri, Badrinath

Landslides triggered by heavy rains blocked two key highways connecting major pilgrimage centres of Rishikesh, Gangotri and Badrinath in Uttarakhand on Thursday, leaving hundreds of people stranded. The landslides struck the Rishikesh-Gangotri National Highway (NH-108) at Nalupani area in Uttarkashi district and Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway (NH-58) at Chhinka area in Chamoli district, sources in Disaster Management and Mitigation Centre (DMMC) said. The personnel of state police and Border Road Organisation have been pressed into service to clear the debris and open the road for vehicular traffic, they said. Meanwhile, nine persons, including a woman, were injured when boulders hit them while travelling in a jeep in Chami area of Uttarkashi district. The woman, who was injured seriously, has been admitted to hospital, they said.