Persistent monsoon rains have disrupted traffic in Uttarakhand, blocking key routes and stranding commuters across the hill state. On Tuesday, a major landslip in the Kwarab area rendered a section of the Almora-Haldwani National Highway impassable for several hours, leading to significant congestion and delays.

Traffic came to a standstill early morning after a truck got stuck in the muddy stretch near Kwarab. “The situation was chaotic. No one knew how long it would take to clear,” Navin Kumar, a Pithoragarh resident whose journey to Haldwani was delayed by several hours, told TOI. NH junior engineer Jagdish Papnai confirmed that after multiple attempts, the truck was removed and the road was reopened, though traffic remained sluggish due to heavy vehicular load.

Local resident Anoop Jeena said congestion began around 6 a.m. and continued till 11 a.m., adding that the conditions were especially difficult for senior citizens and the unwell.

The impact was also severe in Bageshwar district, where heavy rainfall triggered landslides and blocked 16 rural roads, primarily in the Kapkot block. A significant slide occurred Monday evening on the Pindari route. “Around 10 meters of hillside suddenly collapsed onto the road,” said district disaster management officer Shikha Suyal. She added that response teams were sent immediately, and the route was partially cleared by late evening.

A video of the landslide widely circulated on social media showed large debris falling from the hillside, drawing attention to the fragile terrain and heightened monsoon vulnerability. Locals expressed fears of more blockages as rain continues.

The public works and disaster management departments remain on alert, with clearing and safety operations ongoing in the affected areas.

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Photo by Chirag Saini on Unsplash