Villages continue to sink, highways crack; families flee homes, Uttarakhand seeks Rs 5,702 crore relief package
In Uttarakhand, continuous rain has triggered land subsidence in mountain villages and cracks on highways. Terrified residents fled their homes overnight as the ground gave way beneath them. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand seeks a Rs 5,702 crore relief package from the centre.
Dehradun: The situation in Uttarakhand has turned alarming as continuous heavy rainfall triggers widespread damage across the state.
Villages in the Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Tehri, and Pauri Garhwal districts are sinking, and huge cracks have appeared in homes and highways, forcing many residents to abandon their homes overnight.
Ground is collapsing in several mountain villages
According to officials, the ground is collapsing in several mountain villages, raising fears of further landslides and structural failures. In many areas, the administration has issued evacuation orders, asking people to move to safer locations. The fear is compounded by the fact that key highways, including the Gangotri and Yamunotri routes, have also started to cave in, cutting off access to remote regions.
520 roads are currently closed across the state
The Public Works Department (PWD) has reported that 520 roads are currently closed across the state. These include five national highways, 27 state highways, and 164 rural roads, severely affecting transportation and supply chains. District-wise, Pauri has 71 closed roads, Tehri 43, Chamoli 53, Rudraprayag 43, and Uttarkashi 65. Other affected districts include Dehradun (49), Haridwar (5), Pithoragarh (51), Champawat (1), Almora (86), Bageshwar (12), Nainital (32), and Udham Singh Nagar (1).
The PWD and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have deployed 779 machines to clear debris and reopen roads. However, the task remains difficult due to recurring rainfall. Officials say that roads cleared one day are often blocked again the next due to fresh landslides.
Target is to reopen all closed roads by October 31
Pankaj Pandey, Secretary of the Public Works Department, stated that while the target is to reopen all closed roads by October 31, the weather is making it nearly impossible to stick to deadlines. "We open a road, and it gets blocked again. Still, our teams are working round the clock to restore connectivity,” he said.
CM instructed all departments to coordinate efforts
To address the worsening road conditions, the state government has announced a pothole-free road campaign starting September 15. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has instructed all departments to coordinate efforts and ensure that roads are repaired and made safe before the end of October.
The campaign aims to improve road safety and reduce travel disruptions, but officials admit that the continuous rain is a major obstacle. Rajesh Sharma, Chief Engineer of PWD, said an action plan has been prepared, and teams are ready to begin work as soon as conditions allow.
Meanwhile, residents in affected villages are living in fear. Cracks in homes and roads are growing, and many families have taken shelter with relatives or in temporary camps. The collapsing terrain has made daily life difficult, with limited access to food, water, and medical aid.
Uttarakhand requested a Rs 5,702 crore relief package from the Centre
Uttarakhand has formally requested a Rs 5,702 crore relief package from the Centre to address widespread damage caused by this year’s monsoon disasters. The state government cited extensive losses to infrastructure, agriculture, and livelihoods, emphasising the urgent need for financial support to rebuild affected areas and strengthen disaster preparedness across vulnerable districts.