Work on to restore roads in U`khand despite heavy downpour: BRO

New Delhi: A good progress has been made in restoring highways connectivity at some places in flood-hit Uttarakhand despite continuous rains and rising water level in rivers, Border Roads Organisation said. "BRO has kept open both the main axis - Rishikesh to Uttarkashi and Rishikesh-Joshimath-Govindghat, and two major block points between Govindghat and Joshimath have been cleared," a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) statement said. "The damages are massive ... The high water level in rivers and continuous rains have made working extremely difficult. At many places the river has breached the full formation width of road," it said. It said good progress has been made on Pithoragarh to Dharchulha road, exuding hope that connectivity to Dharchulha will be restored in next three to four days. BRO has pressed into service about 130 excavators and bulldozers while its 4,000 personnel and labourers are working to complete the task of opening the road network. It said that up to Uttarkashi the Rishikesh-Dharasu- Uttarkashi-Gangotri road has been opened. There are 7-8 major breaches beyond Uttarkashi, it said. "The efforts made in last four days have brought good results. A large portion of the road between Harshil and Uttatkashi has been cleared ... BRO has made foot tracks to give connectivity. Big task ahead is to connect the 20 km road beyond Uttarkashi," it said.

On Rishikesh-Joshimath-Badrinath-Mana Road, it said the axis has been kept open despite heavy rains and fresh landslides and sinking of road at many places. There are four major breaches beyond Govindghat and a 50 metre bridge at Lambagarh has been washed away, it said, adding, efforts are on to link the road from both Govindghat and Badrinath sides. As far as Rudraprayag-Gaurikund road is concerned, it said the stretch has suffered extensive damages and presently the road from Rudraprayaga side has been cleared up to 18 km (August Muni) except at one point at 6.5 km. "Now efforts are on to clear the road between 18 km to 35 km. The continuous rain and high water level in river has greatly affected clearance works and also damaged some stretches which were earlier repaired," it added. On roads in Himachal Pradesh, BRO said the roads Wangthu -Pooh and Pooh-Kaurik have suffered extensive damage. "It is hoped that Pooh will be connected in next 2-3 days," it said, adding, some stretches have been cut off from both sides and resources are being airlifted to clear these stretches. BRO has been entrusted with building frontier road infrastructure. PTI