Landslide on NH-707A in Tehri Garhwal Attributed to Excavation Work; IMD Red Alert for Haridwar and Pauri Garhwal

Current Summary

Heavy rain is forecast to continue over northwest India for another week, with Uttarakhand on flash flood alert, Livemint reported on July 10, extending an earlier Met department outlook of heavy rain over 48 hours. As many as 118 roads are closed across Uttarakhand, with rivers swollen and an IMD red alert in force, per NDTV and ETV Bharat on July 10. ETV Bharat also reported that 210 Char Dham pilgrims have died so far; the timeframe, causes and breakdown of those deaths have not been detailed, and they are not attributed to the current rain event. The Gangotri National Highway reopened on the morning of July 10 after debris from a rain-triggered landslide in Uttarkashi district was cleared, per ANI News; schools in Uttarkashi were closed. Reports of the monsoon death toll across northern and northeastern states conflict: India Today reported ten deaths across northern states with landslides in Uttarakhand, while The Tribune reported five deaths across Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Mizoram and Tripura; how many deaths occurred in Uttarakhand has not been specified in either report. Around 1,000 people are stranded after landslides, per Bhaskar English; their locations and rescue status have not been detailed. The Rudraprayag district administration has alerted residents as river levels rise. Haridwar, Pauri Garhwal, Dehradun and Nainital are among districts under IMD red alert, with a flash flood risk in Dehradun and waterlogging reported in Haridwar and in Khatima, Udham Singh Nagar district. Schools and Anganwadi centres in Dehradun district and schools in Pauri Garhwal district were closed on July 10. A roughly 100-metre stretch of the Yamunotri national highway was damaged by a landslide late on July 9, disrupting traffic. The Times of India reported Char Dham highways shut and a flash flood risk for seven districts. A landslide triggered by excavation work was reported on NH-707A in Tehri Garhwal district, and a landslide was reported on the Kailash route on July 9. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reviewed the situation on the evening of July 9 and directed officials to remain on high alert. Which of the 118 closed roads are affected, how many deaths and stranded people are in Uttarakhand and their locations, the causes and timeframe of the 210 reported pilgrim deaths, whether rivers have crossed danger marks, whether evacuations have been ordered, which Char Dham highways remain closed, the restoration status of the Yamunotri NH, NH-707A and Kailash route damage, and consolidated responses from BRO, PWD and district administrations have not been confirmed in available signals.

What Changed

• 10 Jul, 06:01 pm
  The Tribune reported on July 10 that five people have died and highways remain blocked as the monsoon wreaks havoc across Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Mizoram and Tripura. This multi-state toll differs from India Today's earlier figure of ten deaths across northern states. Neither report specifies how many of the deaths occurred in Uttarakhand, and the state-specific toll remains unconfirmed.
• 10 Jul, 05:12 pm
  ETV Bharat reported on July 10 that 118 roads remain shut across Uttarakhand as heavy rain lashes the state, corroborating the earlier NDTV figure. The report also said 210 Char Dham pilgrims have died so far; the timeframe, causes and breakdown of those deaths have not been detailed and are not attributed to the current rain event.
• 10 Jul, 05:11 pm
  ETV Bharat reported on July 10 that 118 roads remain shut across Uttarakhand as heavy rain lashes the state, consistent with earlier NDTV reporting. The same report said 210 Char Dham pilgrims have died so far, a figure that appears to be cumulative for the yatra season. The causes of those deaths, and whether any are linked to the current spell of heavy rain and landslides, have not been specified.
• 10 Jul, 05:02 pm
  Heavy rain is forecast to continue over northwest India for another week, with Uttarakhand on flash flood alert, Livemint reported on July 10. This extends the earlier Met department outlook of heavy rain over 48 hours. District-wise rainfall forecasts and the duration of the red alert have not been detailed.
• 10 Jul, 05:02 pm
  As many as 118 roads are closed across Uttarakhand amid continuing heavy monsoon rain, with rivers swollen and an IMD red alert in force, NDTV reported on July 10. This is the first consolidated statewide figure for road closures. Which roads are closed, and which rivers are near or above danger marks, has not been detailed.
• 10 Jul, 04:51 pm
  The Times of India reported on the morning of July 10 that the IMD has issued an orange alert for heavy rain in Uttarakhand as rivers swell. Earlier reports on July 9 and 10 placed several districts, including Haridwar, Pauri Garhwal, Nainital and Dehradun, under a red alert. Whether the alert level has been revised downward, or the orange alert covers different districts or a different period, is unclear from available signals.
• 10 Jul, 04:51 pm
  UPDATE: The Gangotri National Highway has reopened after debris from the rain-triggered landslide in Uttarkashi district was cleared, ANI News reported on the morning of July 10. The highway had been reported blocked earlier the same day. The state remains on high alert amid heavy rainfall warnings. Which agency cleared the debris and whether traffic is moving normally along the full route have not been detailed.
• 10 Jul, 04:51 pm
  An ISRO satellite has spotted a massive cloud build-up over Uttarakhand, India Today reported on the morning of July 10, indicating the risk of continued heavy rain over the state. Which districts face the heaviest rainfall from the system and over what period has not been detailed.
• 10 Jul, 04:44 pm
  NewsBytes reported on the morning of July 10 that the landslide blocking the Gangotri Highway was triggered by heavy rain in Uttarkashi district, and that schools in the district have been closed. The exact point of the blockage and restoration status remain unconfirmed.
• 10 Jul, 05:10 am
  The Rudraprayag district administration has alerted residents as river water levels rise amid heavy rainfall, The News Mill reported on the evening of July 9. Rudraprayag lies at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers on the Kedarnath yatra route. Which rivers are rising, whether any have crossed warning or danger marks, and whether evacuations have been ordered have not been detailed.
• 10 Jul, 05:00 am
  India Today reported on the morning of July 10 that 10 people have died amid monsoon havoc, with landslides in Uttarakhand and rivers swelling in Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. The report headline does not specify how many of the deaths, if any, occurred in Uttarakhand. This is the first signal reporting fatalities linked to the ongoing rain event.
• 10 Jul, 04:50 am
  Bhaskar English reported early on July 10 that around 1,000 people are stranded after landslides in Uttarakhand. Where they are stranded, whether they are pilgrims or residents, whether rescue or evacuation operations are underway, and any confirmation from the district administrations, SDRF, or NDRF have not been detailed. The same report mentioned rain-related deaths in Uttar Pradesh and train cancellations, which are outside Uttarakhand; whether the cancelled trains affect Uttarakhand routes is not specified.
• 10 Jul, 04:30 am
  Livemint reported on the morning of July 10 that rains have triggered a flash flood risk in Dehradun, rivers are overflowing, and Nainital along with other districts is under an IMD red alert. This is the first signal to name Nainital among the red alert districts and to flag a flash flood risk specifically for Dehradun.
• 10 Jul, 04:00 am
  The Gangotri Highway has been blocked by a landslide and rivers are swelling across Uttarakhand, CNBC TV18 reported early on July 10. The IMD has warned of extremely heavy rain. The exact location of the Gangotri Highway blockage, which rivers are swelling and to what levels, and clearance timelines have not been confirmed.
• 10 Jul, 03:20 am
  Heavy rain has lashed Khatima in Udham Singh Nagar district, waterlogging roads, ANI News reported early on July 10. The IMD has forecast more showers. The specific roads affected in Khatima, the extent of waterlogging, and whether Udham Singh Nagar is among the districts under alert have not been confirmed.
• 10 Jul, 03:10 am
  Waterlogging has been reported in Haridwar after heavy rainfall, with several areas affected, The Economic Times reported early on July 10. Haridwar is one of the two districts under an IMD red alert. The specific localities affected, the depth and extent of the waterlogging, whether any evacuations or drainage operations are underway, and any statement from the Haridwar district administration have not been detailed in the available signal.
• 10 Jul, 02:40 am
  Schools and Anganwadi centres in Dehradun district are closed on July 10 due to heavy rain, NDTV reported early on July 10. This adds Dehradun to Pauri Garhwal, where schools were already announced closed for July 10 under the heavy rain alert.
• 9 Jul, 11:10 pm
  Pioneer Edge reported on the evening of July 9 that schools were closed for the day and police have warned people to stay away from rivers amid the heavy rain. The report did not specify which districts the school closures and the police warning apply to. This adds a public-safety advisory dimension to the ongoing rain disruption; Pauri Garhwal had earlier announced schools would remain closed on July 10.
• 9 Jul, 08:30 pm
  Schools in Pauri Garhwal district will remain closed on July 10 due to the heavy rain alert, according to a Jagran Josh report published on the evening of July 9. Pauri Garhwal is one of the two districts under an IMD red alert alongside Haridwar. Whether the closure covers all schools and anganwadis, whether other red-alert districts have announced similar closures, and the formal order from the district administration have not been detailed in the available signal.
• 9 Jul, 08:00 pm
  A roughly 100-metre stretch of the Yamunotri national highway has been damaged by a landslide, disrupting traffic on the route, ABP Live English reported late on July 9. The Yamunotri highway runs through Uttarkashi district and serves one of the four Char Dham shrines. The exact location of the damage, whether the road is fully or partially blocked, whether any vehicles or pilgrims were affected, and the restoration timeline have not been detailed in the report.
• 9 Jul, 06:20 pm
  The Times of India reports that Char Dham highways have been shut and a flash flood risk has been issued for seven districts, alongside the red alert for heavy rain. Which highways are closed at which points, who issued the flash flood risk, and reopening timelines have not been confirmed in the available signal.
• 9 Jul, 05:30 pm
  Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has reviewed the rain situation in Uttarakhand and directed officials to remain on high alert, according to an ANI News report published on the evening of July 9. The specific directions issued, the departments involved in the review, and any deployment or relief measures ordered have not been detailed in the available signal.
• 9 Jul, 02:40 pm
  The New Indian Express reports on the afternoon of July 9 that an orange alert has been issued as rain disrupts daily life across Uttarakhand, and that the Kailash route has been hit by a landslide. The exact location of the Kailash route landslide, whether the route is fully blocked, whether any travellers are stranded, and which districts the orange alert covers have not been confirmed in the available signal.
• 9 Jul, 01:10 pm
  The Hindu (July 9, afternoon) reports that seven districts in Uttarakhand are on red alert for heavy rain and that traffic has been disrupted on 107 routes across the state. This is the first report to put a number on the districts under red alert and on the scale of road disruption. The names of all seven districts, which routes are blocked versus partially open, and clearance timelines have not been listed in the available signal.
• 9 Jul, 01:00 pm
  HimbuMail (July 9) reports that the IMD has warned of extreme rainfall in Uttarakhand, alongside heavy rainfall warnings for Himachal Pradesh. This corroborates earlier reports of red alerts for Haridwar and Pauri Garhwal and of heavy rain expected across the state over 48 hours. The specific districts under the extreme rainfall warning and expected rainfall amounts remain unconfirmed.
• 9 Jul, 12:40 pm
  The Met department has forecast heavy rain across Uttarakhand over the next 48 hours, with several districts placed on red alert, according to a Deccan Herald report published July 9 citing the Met office. This extends earlier reports of red alerts for Haridwar and Pauri Garhwal. The full list of districts under red alert, expected rainfall amounts, and any district administration advisories tied to the forecast have not been detailed in the available signal.
• 9 Jul, 06:10 am
  ANI News (July 9) independently corroborates that excavation work triggered the landslide on NH-707A in Tehri Garhwal and that the IMD has issued a red alert for Haridwar and Pauri Garhwal districts. This is the third outlet to report the event and the second to attribute the slide to excavation work. Official confirmation from BRO, PWD, or the district administrations is still awaited.
• 9 Jul, 05:30 am
  A second outlet, Awaz The Voice (July 9), independently reports that a landslide has hit NH-707A in Uttarakhand and that the IMD has issued a red alert. This corroborates the earlier News Mill report. The exact location, extent of blockage, injuries, and official response remain unconfirmed.
• 9 Jul, 05:10 am
  Signal detected: Landslide on NH-707A in Tehri Garhwal Attributed to Excavation Work; IMD Red Alert for Haridwar and Pauri Garhwal

Background

NH-707A runs through Tehri Garhwal in the Garhwal region. Uttarakhand is in the middle of the monsoon season, with an IMD orange alert already in force for parts of the state and disruptions reported on the Gangotri and Yamunotri highways.