Re-Examining Safety: Government Orders Review of Uttarkashi-Gangotri Road After Dharali Disaster

In the wake of the catastrophic Dharali disaster, where flash floods and landslides ravaged Dharali village near Harsil along the Gangotri highway, the Indian government has decided to re-evaluate the safety of sections of the Uttarkashi-Gangotri road under the Char Dham highway project.

On August 12, geologist Navin Juyal and environmentalist Hemant Dhyani (both linked to the Supreme Court-appointed committee on Char Dham’s environmental impact) sent a letter urging that upgrades to the road be reassessed. They maintained that the existing design, particularly uniform 10-metre widening of the valley-side slope, is creating new landslide-prone zones. An alternative Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted in October 2023 had proposed modifications to reduce tree felling and slope tampering.

Responding to these concerns, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), via its Dehradun office, instructed the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) to review slope protection and landslide mitigation measures. The THDC has been asked to examine five critical stretches of NH-34 between Uttarkashi and Gangotri, including the Netala bypass which passes through untouched forest over old landslide debris and submit technical recommendations to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

In parallel, civil society has petitioned for halting Char Dham works temporarily, citing the Dharali disaster as a wake-up call. The government has asked the BRO to take note of these concerns. The reassessment marks a potentially significant shift in how environmental sensitivity and hazard risk are balanced against infrastructure ambitions in the Himalayan region.