Is It Safe to Travel to Uttarakhand This Week? Latest Border Advisories and Monsoon Route Conditions Explained
The active monsoon system of India has intensified and started bringing heavy rain to select districts in Uttarakhand. While travel is permitted, visitors to this region should exercise an increased level of caution, particularly if they plan to travel to high elevation (> 3000 m) areas of the High Himalaya or will be travelling on mountain highways. Local authorities have identified many hundreds of locations that are subject to flooding and more than 1,100 roads that will be affected by road closures due to landslides and other monsoon-related disruptions.
Which Routes Need Extra Caution?
Visitors should focus on the roadways leading to:
– Char Dham Pilgrimage Circuit
– Chamoli
– Rudraprayag
– Uttarkashi
– Pithoragarh
– Bageshwar
and take care to monitor these road and weather conditions closely as they are particularly at risk from landslides, falling rocks and temporary road closures due to heavy rain events.
Border and Highway Advisory
Interstate borders are currently open; however, roadway conditions may change rapidly during severe rain events.
Information to Confirm Before Embarking on their Journey:
– Have you confirmed condition of the highway?
– Have you confirmed your hotel / local transportation availability?
– Are you travelling after dark on hill roads?
– Do you have extra fuel, food, drinking water and medicine?
Conclusion
It is feasible for you to travel to Uttarakhand in the upcoming week, although it requires some advance planning before you can do so. Landslide risk due to monsoonal weather causes road closures for limited times in higher elevation districts within Uttarakhand (in the Himalayas). Consequently, to have a safe trip to Uttarakhand, be sure to monitor both the weather and road updates just prior to your trip and be prepared for possible delays enroute.
FAQs
Is it safe for people to travel to Uttarakhand this week?
Yes, you can travel to Uttarakhand this week; however, you must continue to monitor road and weather conditions closely while there – especially in the hilly districts of Uttarakhand.
Are the borders into Uttarakhand currently closed?
No, as of today, all border crossings remain open, but on some of the highways that connect Uttarakhand with the other states of India, traffic will be restricted temporarily.
What are the highest risk roads for landslides?
The roads through the Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, and Char Dham are the roads most susceptible to landslides as a result of heavy monsoonal rain.
Should I travel during the night in Uttarakhand?
It is safer to travel during the daytime rather than at night in Uttarakhand because of the monsoonal weather conditions.
