Authorities Reroute Traffic as Mountain Slides Disrupt Travel in Kinnaur

Mountainous Kinnaur district is grappling with severe traffic disruptions after a series of landslides linked to ongoing rainstorms. In the early hours of Tuesday, a slide near Nigulsari in the Nichar block sent a cascade of rocks onto National Highway 5, forcing authorities to close the road completely. Simultaneously, landslides at Helang and Aamsod blocked the vital Badrinath National Highway and the Narayanbagh‑Karnprayag main thoroughfare. The state administration has warned the public to stay away from the affected zones and has set up temporary diversion routes. Nevertheless, the alternative pathways are still exposed to rockfall, posing a continued safety risk. Cleanup crews are working round the clock to clear the debris, but the ongoing instability of the surrounding hills hampers swift restoration. The weather pattern remains unchanged, with daily rain showers in the Nichar area, while neighboring Puh and Kalpa blocks only see light precipitation under cloud cover. Local farmers cultivating apples and peas express concern that the persistent landslide threat near Nigulsari and Nathpa Jwala could affect crop yields. Forecasts from the meteorological department suggest light to moderate rain with occasional thunderstorms across most districts on Thursday, and heavier rain with lightning in Dehradun, Chamoli and Bageshwar. Yellow alerts have been issued for several districts, including Tehri, Uttarkashi, Pauri, Pithoragarh, Champawat, Nainital, and Rudraprayag, while Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar face a rain‑with‑thunder alert.