Badrinath National Highway Shut Down by Heavy Rains in Uttarakhand
Heavy monsoon rains in Uttarakhand have triggered landslides, forcing the closure of the Badrinath National Highway near Nandprayag. The blockage has disrupted traffic, stranding pilgrims and tourists traveling to and from the major Hindu pilgrimage site of Badrinath. This closure highlights the annual challenge faced by the state's infrastructure during the monsoon season, where landslides frequently sever critical road links in the mountainous region, impacting both local life and religious tourism.
Unpacked:
Landslides are a common occurrence in Uttarakhand during the monsoon, with over 1,500 incidents reported in 2024 alone. Data from 1988 to 2023 shows a total of 12,319 landslides in the state, and their frequency has accelerated in recent years due to increasing rainfall and climate change impacts.
The main causes include intense and prolonged monsoon rainfall, geomorphological sensitivity of the region's steep slopes, and climate change, which has led to higher temperatures and more extreme weather events. Human activities, such as construction and deforestation, also exacerbate the risk.
Closure of the Badrinath National Highway disrupts the movement of pilgrims and tourists, impacting religious tourism—a key economic sector for the region. It also hampers the daily lives and supply chains of local residents, often leaving them isolated and affecting access to essential services.
Efforts include constructing retaining walls, improving drainage systems, early warning systems, and stricter regulations on construction in vulnerable areas. There are also calls for afforestation, better land-use planning, and climate adaptation strategies to mitigate the increasing risk of landslides.