According to local reports, around 60 meters of Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway has been destroyed due to the landslide. Border Roads Organization (BRO) and police personnel have already swung into the action and rescue operations are underway.
As per BRO officials, it was a massive landslide, which would take at least two days to clear the debris from the highway.
At present, authorities have asked pilgrims to stay put at the Badrinath shrine. Meanwhile, tourists going towards the shrine have been stopped at Joshimath, Pipalkoti, and Chamoli.
What is more worrying is the fact that we do not expect relief in terms of weather. According to Skymet Weather, weather conditions are conducive for rain and thundershowers to continue over Uttarakhand during the next 24 hours. Hence, no relief is at present expected in the state. In fact, these ongoing rains are sure to hamper the relief operations.
A Western Disturbance is passing through Jammu and Kashmir, giving rains of varying intensity over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. At present also, Dehradun and parts Chamoli are reporting rain and thundershowers.
Uttarakhand is prone to frequent landslides and floods. In 2013, the state had witnessed massive landslides and flash floods, leaving the state devastated that claimed thousands of lives. This was the worst natural disaster after the Tsunami in 2004 in the country.
Image credit: ANI
Any information taken from here should be credited to skymetweather.com