Landslide on Badrinath NH, thousands stranded

Gopeshwar, May 19

Thousands of pilgrims were feared stranded after a landslide occurred near Vishnuprayag in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, blocking the Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway.

The highway has been closed near Vishnuprayag, one of the five confluences of Alaknanda river, between Joshimath (also known as Jyotirmath) and Badrinath, the famous pilgrim spot in the hill state.

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District Collector Ashish Joshi said personnel of the Border Roads Organisation were engaged in clearing the roads and that the traffic was expected to be restored by Saturday afternoon.

He also said efforts are on to provide all facilities to the 1,000-1,500 pilgrims at Joshimath, Karnaprayag, Pipalkoti, Govindghat and Badrinath. 

Keeping in view the danger posed by intermittent fall of debris from mountains, the district administration has arranged for safety of travellers at convenient places in advance, Joshi said.

Witnesses said huge rocks from Hathi Pahar had fallen on the road near Vishnuprayag and it could take a long time to get the way cleared. — PTI