State Tourism, Public Works and Irrigation Minister Satpal Maharaj has said that due to heavy rains, landslides have occurred at many places in the state, due to which the roads have been damaged and blocked. Officers and employees of Public Works Department, National Highway BRO and PMGSY are engaged in opening these roads with the help of various machines day and night.
Public Works Minister Satpal Maharaj said that continuous efforts are being made to restore connecting roads, communication network and other connectivity in the disaster affected areas. There is also information about many tourists being stranded, who are being evacuated. Shuttle service has been started between Matli and Harshil due to the disaster in Harshil and Dharali of Uttarkashi district. Rescue work is going on on a war footing by the government. 274 people have been brought safely to Harshil from Gangotri and other areas. While 35 people were taken from Harshil to Jolly Grant Airport via Chinook helicopter. The work of delivering food items to the affected areas through heli service is also continuing.
Giving information, Public Works Minister Shri Maharaj said that till Thursday, a total of 359 roads of the Public Works Department were blocked in the state, out of which 243 roads have been opened for traffic. While the work of opening the remaining 116 blocked roads is going on at war footing. The blocked roads include 01 National Highway, 11 State Highways, 09 Main District Roads, 02 Other District Roads and 93 Rural Roads. To keep the roads of the Public Works Department available for smooth traffic in the state, a total of 514 machines have been deployed at various important and likely places of road closure. Executive Engineers in all disaster affected areas including Dharali and Harshil have been instructed to open the blocked roads on priority.
