Recurring landslides block Pithoragarh-Tanakpur road

Recurring landslides have brought a heap of rubble on the all-weather Tanakpur-Pithoragarh road at Ghat blocking it for days and inconveniencing people.

A landslide on Wednesday disrupted traffic on the 30-km stretch between Ghat and Pithoragarh. When the debris was cleared on Thursday, a second landslide blocked the highway again.

The all-weather road is unlikely to reopen for another two days, said an Army jawan on his way to his place of posting on Sino-Indo border in the district.

People are hiring vehicles to reach Tanakpur or Haldwani where they can wait while the road is cleared, he said.

The disruption has also hit supplies to the district headquarters leading to a rise in prices of essential goods, said Surendra Khatri, a retailer in the town.

Officials blamed heavy rain and work to widen the road for the recurring landslides.

"It is in view of such disruptions that we had sent a proposal of Rs 4 crore to construct a 12-km-long alternate route from Jakhpuran to Ghat some six months ago before starting the widening work in this rocky portion but it was not sanctioned," NHAI Executive Engineer LD Mathela said.

The portion between Ghat to Pithoragarh is the most rocky portion of the 150 km road from Tanakpur to Pithoragarh, he said.

Pithoragarh District Magistrate VK Jogdande said preparing an alternative route is the only way out of such disruptions. Rock quarrying on the road has to be completed within a set timeframe and it cannot be put off till sanction for an alternative route, the DM said.