Guptkashi, August 30(HS): The Kedarnath National Highway near Fata at Dolia Devi, which had been disrupted by a landslide since Friday, was reopened to traffic after a 24-hour closure. The blockage led to long queues of vehicles stretching for several kilometers on both sides of the highway.

The persistent landslides along this crucial route have been a recurring issue since the 2013 disaster when the Mandakini River caused severe erosion. Continuous rockfalls and ground subsidence, particularly beneath the Khat village located uphill, have compounded the problem. Despite spending crores of rupees on repairs, the National Highway Authority has been unable to fully stabilize the area, which has also been the site of multiple vehicle accidents over the years.

The latest disruption occurred around noon on Friday when heavy rainfall triggered a rockslide below Khat village, completely blocking the highway. Fortunately, there was no traffic on the road at the time of the incident. Locals promptly notified the authorities, but due to delayed departmental response, clearance operations only commenced 24 hours later on Saturday at noon.

Excavator machines reached the site and took two to three hours to clear the debris. During this time, pilgrims traveling to and from Kedarnath had to rely on a pedestrian path through Khat village to continue their journey.

Traffic has now resumed, but the area remains vulnerable to future landslides, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced in maintaining safe passage on this critical pilgrimage route.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar