Heavy rain batters Uttarakhand; 3 NH among 120 roads shut, 100 pilgrims rescued on Yamunotri rout
Heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand has triggered landslides, blocking 120 roads and three national highways. Rescue operations are underway for stranded pilgrims, with local authorities prioritizing the construction of alternative routes and bridge repairs.
Why it matters
The disruption highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in mountainous regions during monsoon seasons and the ongoing challenges in disaster management.
Landslides triggered by heavy rainfall blocked 120 roads, including three national highways, across Uttarakhand, while around 100 pilgrims were escorted to safety with ropes across a washed-out stretch of the Yamunotri National Highway after the route remained cut off for two days.
According to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), a massive accumulation of debris completely blocked the highway at Syanachatti in Uttarkashi district on Thursday (July 9, 2026) after incessant rain triggered a landslide that washed away nearly 100 metres of the road.
Rescue personnel secured a rope along an alternative path and carefully guided the stranded travellers across one by one.
The national highway had been blocked for two days, the officials said, adding that repair work is underway but is being hampered by continuous rain and fresh debris and stones falling from the hillside.
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