UTTARKASHI, June 29— At least nine construction labourers went missing early Sunday after a cloudburst triggered a landslide along the Yamunotri National Highway, sweeping away their shelters and blocking the vital pilgrimage route, officials confirmed.
The missing labourers, reportedly of Nepali origin, were working on the construction of a hotel near Silai Bend, around 4 km from Paligad in Uttarkashi district, when the landslide struck around dawn. Authorities said 19 labourers were camped below the hotel site at the time of the incident.
“Eight to nine of them are missing, while the rest have been brought to safety,” said District Magistrate Prashant Arya, adding that a new landslide zone has emerged dangerously close to the hotel.
The district emergency operation centre confirmed that 10 workers were rescued, but the fate of the others remains unknown. NDRF, SDRF, and police teams have launched an intensive search and rescue operation, Arya said.
The landslide washed away nearly 10 metres of the highway, with debris also blocking the road at two additional locations. The Public Works Department (PWD) is working to clear the route, though reopening may take several hours, officials said.
Pilgrims returning from Yamunotri have been advised to remain at safe locations. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said he is monitoring the situation closely. “Search and rescue efforts are underway. I’m in constant touch with officials. We are praying for the safety of those missing,” he said.
Barkot SHO Deepak Kathait confirmed that the missing workers are of Nepali origin.
In a related development, the Chardham Yatra has been suspended for a day amid heavy rainfall and landslide threats. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for June 29 and 30, warning of intense downpours in several districts including Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Haridwar, Nainital, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar.
“In view of the continuing heavy rains and possible landslides, the Yatra has been put on hold to safeguard pilgrims,” said Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey. “Devotees on the route are being relocated to safe shelters. Rescue and relief teams have been mobilized in all vulnerable areas.”
A final decision on resuming the Yatra will be taken after reviewing weather conditions on Monday, he added. The administration has urged devotees to follow safety guidelines and avoid travel until conditions normalize.
Elsewhere in Uttarkashi, torrential rain has wreaked havoc in Kuthnaur village, damaging agricultural land and filling fields with debris. The road near Ojri has been completely destroyed, and the Kupda Kunshala Trikhili motor bridge in Syanachatti is also at risk due to rising Yamuna River levels.
Authorities remain on high alert across the region as Uttarakhand continues to grapple with the effects of relentless monsoon rains.
