At least 36 workers are feared to be trapped inside an under-construction tunnel that collapsed on the Yamunotri National Highway here in Uttarakhand's Uttarakashi district, officials said on Sunday.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday said that over 46 lakh devotees embarked on Char Dham Yatra, which comprises the four holy shrines-- Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath-- so far this year.
In an order issued on Monday, the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority said, "Char Dham Yatra stopped temporarily on the 14th and 15th August following disruption in the movement of traffic due to landslides after heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand."
Traffic was suspended at a number of locations along the Gangotri-Yamunotri National Highway on Saturday morning owing to the constant downpours in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district, an official said.
Traffic was stalled and disrupted on the Gangotri-Yamunotri National Highway due to the falling and piling up of debris from landslides in the region, an official said on Friday.
"Efforts are on to open the highway by the National Highway Authority Barkot. Passengers are stranded at various places on the highway due to the closure of the highway," according to District Disaster ManagementoOfficer, Uttarkashi.
Traffic has been suspended with debris continuing to fall at many places on the Gangotri-Yamunotri National Highway, as persistent rains continue to wreak havoc in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, officials said on Wednesday.
Traffic was affected after a 70-metre stretch of the National Highway was damaged due to rainfall near Gauchar town in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand on Monday, officials said.
Traffic has been suspended and the Yamunotri pilgrimage halted as boulders continue to fall at many places on the Yamunotri Highway for the last three days as persistent rains continue to wreak havoc in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, officials said.