- By Priyanka Koul
- Sun, 12 Jul 2026 09:55 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Heavy rainfall blocks 126 roads, including two national highways.
- Rivers swelling dangerously, causing flash floods and infrastructure damage.
- IMD issues yellow alert for heavy rain until July 16.
Uttarakhand Rain: Heavy rainfall continued to lash Uttarakhand on Sunday, disrupting normal life as landslides, flash floods and infrastructure damage affected several districts. Roads remained blocked, rivers swelled dangerously and power outages were reported from multiple areas, prompting authorities to step up emergency response and restoration efforts.
At least 126 roads, including two national highways, remained blocked due to rain-related incidents, PTI reported. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), district administrations, police and other emergency agencies have been put on high alert as relentless rainfall continues to impact transport links and public infrastructure. Restoration work is underway across the affected districts.
The Rishikesh-Yamunotri National Highway remained closed for the third consecutive day after a landslide at Syanachatti, with road-clearing operations still in progress.
In Dehradun's Premnagar area, a temporary bridge built after last year's disaster sustained damage in heavy rain early Sunday. Officials, however, said traffic was not affected as a newly constructed bridge nearby was opened for vehicular movement.
A section of the Simli-Tharali-Gwaldam National Highway in Chamoli district was partially damaged after a hillside collapsed near Narayangarh. Although repair work is underway, authorities said traffic continues to move on the route.
The Tawaghat-Gunji National Highway also remained blocked at Malghat, where the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is engaged in clearing debris to restore connectivity.
Heavy rain also triggered the collapse of a massive retaining wall in Nai Basti of Vijay Colony in Dehradun's Hathibarkala-Pathariya Peer area on Saturday night. Debris crashed onto nearby houses, damaging four to five homes and trapping one resident beneath the rubble, HT reported.
The Mussoorie-Dehradun highway near Hanuman Temple was blocked after boulders and mud slid onto the road overnight, leaving tourists and commuters stranded for several hours before clearance operations began.
Rivers across the state continued to rise amid persistent rainfall. In Uttarkashi's Harsil Valley, the Kheerganga River swelled rapidly on Saturday evening, carrying sludge and large boulders that blocked drainage culverts beneath the Gangotri National Highway and threatened the road network.
The Border Roads Organisation deployed heavy machinery to remove the debris and divert the river's flow, preventing further damage. Residents of Dharali village, still recovering from last year's devastating floods, voiced concern over the rapidly rising water level.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning in Dehradun, Rudraprayag, Bageshwar, Chamoli and Pithoragarh between July 13 and 16.