Highway to Badrinath blocked, pilgrims stranded

More than 5,000 pilgrims visiting Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib in Chamoli district of Garhwal were stranded due to massive landslides caused by heavy rains at Marwari, 10 km from Joshimath, on the Rishikesh- Badrinath National Highway. The state Government has also announced a traffic diversion plan for Hardwar in view of the 8220;Kanwar Mela8221; next fortnight, starting from August 3.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate SDM of Joshimath, Nidhi Yadav, said massive landslides from Hathiparbhat blocked the highway on Saturday. As a result, hundreds of pilgrims were stranded at Badrinath and Govindghat since Saturday. A large number of Sikh pilgrims visit Hemkund Sahib Gurdwara during the months of July and August.

8220;We have pressed two bulldozers and asked for two compressor machines to blast the large boulders blocking the highway,8221; Yadav said.

The bulldozers working to clear the landslide have made way for pilgrims to cross over on foot. The district administration has also made arrangements for transshipment of stranded passengers on both the sides of the blockade. However, pilgrims travelling in their own vehicles are stranded. 8220;We have announced that pilgrims should not try to move with their vehicles since it will take another day to re-open the highway,8221; Yadav added.