Several roads blocked due to landslides in Uttarakhand

Dehra Dun, Jun 29 (PTI) Several roads in Uttarakhand, including national highways leading to the shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri, were blocked by landslides triggered by heavy rains stranding hundreds of pilgrims, official sources today said. Rishikesh-Badrinath national highway was blocked just two km away from Badrinath shrine following landslides caused by heavy rains, they said, adding hundreds of pilgrims were stranded in the area. Efforts are on to remove the debris from the road and personnel of Border Road Organisation (BRO) have been deployed to clear it and open the road for vehicular traffic. Rishikesh-Kedarnath national highway has also been blocked at Sirobagad due to landslides triggered by heavy rains. Meanwhile, traffic on Rishikesh-Gangotri national highway between Dharasu and Nalupani could not be resumed on the third consecutive day today as landslides continued to hit the area. Long queues of vehicles were seen on both sides of the road due to the landslides that hit the area on Monday. The Almora-Pithoragarh road was also blocked due to landslides between Makrau and Thiari. PWD personnel have been deployed to restore traffic.