Debris from hill blocks Badrinath highway in Joshimath, Uttarakhand

Vehicular movement on the Badrinath National Highway was halted due to the falling of heavy debris from the hill on the road in Bhanerpani, Joshimath, officials said on Thursday.

Earlier on Wednesday, the road was blocked due to a landslide from the hill near the Patal Ganga Langsi tunnel on the Badrinath National Highway.

Speaking to ANI, Chamoli District Magistrate (DM) Himanshu Khurana said, "Badrinath Highway 07 is blocked due to heavy debris falling from the hill on the road in Bhanerpani, Joshimath."

He said that the route has been opened for pedestrian movement in Joshimath.

"The work of opening the road for vehicles is going on by the BRO along with the teams of the district administration," he added.

Heavy rain in parts of Uttarakhand over the past few days triggered landslides in the hills with the highway to Badrinath blocked at a number of points by rubble. 

Earlier on July 5, traffic movement on the Badrinath National Highway in Chamoli district was halted for several hours due to debris at two places in Chamoli.

According to Chamoli Police, debris near Angthala in the Kotwali Chamoli area led to the Badrinath National Highway being blocked. The incident was reported at around 6.54 am.\

Local authorities and police launched an operation to clear the debris, and traffic was resumed at both locations after three hours.