NEW DELHI, June 26, 2013: Braving heavy rains, fresh landslides and breaches in calamity-ravaged Uttarakhand, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has facilitated evacuation of about 2000 pilgrims from Gaurikund by land route, as it stepped up efforts to restore infrastructure in the region. 

"BRO has constructed two improvised log bridges between Songanga and Gaurikund on Rudraprayaga axis. This has greatly helped evacuation of about 2000 pilgrims from Gaurikund by land route," said a report forwarded to the Centre from the region. 

A readymade foot Bridge has been launched at Pandukeshwar across river Alaknanda near Govindghat on Joshimath - Badrinath axis which has enabled faster evacuation of stranded passengers from Badrinath, it said. 

Meanwhile intensifying its efforts to restore road connectivity, the body entrusted to augment India's frontier infrastructure has pressed into service more than 110 excavators and bulldozers with many more on the way. 

"About 4000 BRO personnel and labourers are working day and nights. Due to heavy rains in the entire region road clearance work has been hampered at many places and roads blocked due to fresh landslides and breaches. However these are being cleared quickly," it said. 

Due to fresh landslides the Rishikesh - Uttarkashi road was blocked at several places yesterday but was subsequently opened. 

While Rishikesh- Joshimath - Badrinath axis was also blocked at two points due to water logging and fresh land slides and breaches but the same were also restored. 

On updates on major roads in the region, the report said Rishikesh-Dharasu- Uttarkashi - Gangotri stretch up to Uttarkashi is opened. 

"However there are two trouble points near Dharashu. Machinery have been deployed at these locations. Beyond Uttarkashi there are road breaches at as many as 30 locations. The work is going on in these points by dividing the sector in four sections. Road clearance work has also been started from Gangotri side and road has been opened up to Harshil," it said. 

As far as Rishikesh-Joshimath-Badrinath- Mana road is concerned, the stretch has been opened up to km 496 (Govindghat) while there are some trouble points in between - one at Srinagar (in the state) and another at Sirobhgarh. 

"There are major breaches beyond Govindghat. 50 m bridge at Lambagarh has been washed away. Efforts are on to link the road from both Govindghat and Badrinath sides," the report said. 

On another major road -- Rudraprayag-Gaurikund Road -- it said presently the road from Rudraprayag side has been cleared upto 7 km and efforts are on to clear it between km 07 to 35. 

Continuous rains have disrupted clearance works and also damaged some stretches which were earlier repaired, the report said, adding six attack points have been opened on this road to clear that route. 

As far as Tanakpur-Pithoragarh-Tawaghat-Ghatiabagarh stretch is concerned, it said the road upto Pithoragarh is through for all traffic. Beyond Pithoragarh, the road is through up to Km 80. Beyond Km 80 up to Tawaghat, about 4 km road has been breached at more than 30 locations. 

A massive operation of road clearance has been taken up on Tawaghat axis. As a first step foot track connectivity has been established for essential communication at breached portions of roads. 

As far as Jauljibi - Munsiyari road is concerned, this axis is closed due to major breaches at about 10 locations. Total road breached is more than 3.5 Km. However efforts are on to clear the road. 

The report said many other lateral roads with BRO in Uttarakhand have also suffered extensive damages. 

As far as roads in Himachal Pradesh are concerned, Wangthu -Pooh and Pooh-Kaurik stretch has suffered extensive damage but have been partly cleared up to Poari. The report said in a big relief to the local population, the district headquarter at Rikangpio has been connected. 

"A massive road clearance work is going on. The roads have suffered major damages affecting about 4 km at about 80 places. More than 30 bulldozers and excavators have been deployed. Road axis to Sumdo-Kaza-Grampu has since been opened and further improvements are in progress," the report added.

Source: The Economic Times, DT. June 26, 2013.