Heavy rains have wreaked havoc in the Kumaon division of Uttarakhand. In the border district of Pithoragarh, the highway connecting to the China border has been severely damaged, cutting off approximately 50 villages from the tehsil headquarters.

The monsoon has once again unleashed its fury in the Kumaon division. Torrential rains—particularly in the border district of Pithoragarh, specifically in Dharchula and adjacent border areas—have severely disrupted normal life. Continuous rainfall has triggered landslides at multiple locations on the national highway, blocking the route to the China border and severing the link between more than 50 villages and the Dharchula tehsil headquarters.

While the administration and road construction agencies are working to clear the roads, persistent rain poses a major challenge to relief operations. The impact of the heavy rain has been most severe on the Tanakpur-Tawaghat National Highway; traffic had to be completely halted near Tawaghat due to a massive influx of debris and boulders falling from the hillside. Similarly, continuous rockfalls in the Malghat area along the Adi Kailash pilgrimage route have made movement hazardous for both pilgrims and locals.

Landslides on the Kailash-Mansarovar route

The Tawaghat-Lipulekh (Kailash-Mansarovar) route has also been blocked at several points due to landslides. Furthermore, debris accumulation at four or five locations along the Tawaghat-Sobla-Tidang border road has completely disrupted road connectivity to the China border. The impact of the rain extended beyond national and border highways; a footbridge connecting Ghatkhola to Siniyakhola in Dharchula tehsil was washed away by strong currents, bringing local movement to a complete standstill.

Adi Kailash pilgrims stranded

An atmosphere of fear prevails among the people due to the incessant rain and falling rocks from the hillsides. Pilgrims en route to Adi Kailash have been stranded due to the closure of the border road, while numerous vehicles heading towards the Darma and Vyas valleys have been halted in the Tawaghat area.

82 mm of rainfall recorded: 82 millimeters of rain was recorded in the region last night, further exacerbating the situation across the border areas. The administration has urged people to avoid unnecessary travel, and vigilance has been heightened in vulnerable zones.