Gopeshwar/Dehradun, Aug 10: A Bailey bridge spanning the Tamak drain on the Malari‑Niti section of the national highway was washed away by sudden floodwaters on Monday evening, severing road connectivity to around a dozen villages in Uttarakhand's Niti Valley and leaving a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) driver missing, officials said.
Immediate impact and missing personnel
Chamoli District Disaster Management Officer N K Joshi told reporters the bridge collapse occurred after a rapid rise in the Tamak drain's water level. The road links that connect Jyotirmath (Joshimath) to the border area were disrupted, affecting villages such as Jumma and Niti.
Jyotirmath Tehsildar Mahendra Arya said the missing BRO driver, identified only as Pankaj and a resident of Pithoragarh district, was swept away when the bridge gave way while he was reportedly observing the floodwaters. A vehicle was also carried off by the current, officials added.
"Relief and rescue teams from the district administration, SDRF and NDRF have been dispatched to the site," the district official said.
Rescue and restoration efforts
District authorities said teams from the State Disaster Response Force and the National Disaster Response Force have been sent for search and relief operations. The BRO has begun working on alternative arrangements and officials expect traffic restoration within a day or two, the district disaster officer said.
- Agencies deployed: District administration, SDRF, NDRF and BRO.
- Villages affected: Around a dozen, including Jumma and Niti; the border area is also cut off.
- Precaution: Vehicular movement from Malari suspended as a safety measure.
Precautionary directives and supplies
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed officials to carry out relief and rescue operations and to take precautionary measures in lower-lying areas following the floods. He also instructed that supplies of ration, food, medicines and other essentials to surrounding villages should not be affected owing to the bridge collapse.
Officials indicated administrative teams are assessing the situation and prioritising alternate supply routes and temporary arrangements to restore connectivity and ensure delivery of essentials.
Context — recurrent disruptions and river risk
For several years the Joshimath–Niti road has faced repeated disruption from floods and landslides in the Tamak drain, officials noted. Flood and debris flow in the region have also intermittently blocked the nearby Dhauli Ganga, compounding access difficulties during heavy flows.
Authorities warned of the possibility of increased water flow into the Alaknanda River and advised people living along its banks and in low‑lying stretches to remain vigilant and follow official instructions.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Tamak drain, Malari‑Niti national highway (Jyotirmath/Joshimath border area) |
| Immediate effects | Bailey bridge washed away; vehicular movement suspended from Malari; around a dozen villages cut off |
| Personnel missing | BRO driver Pankaj (resident of Pithoragarh district) |
| Response teams | District administration, SDRF, NDRF, BRO working on alternatives |
What residents can expect
Officials said traffic may be restored within a day or two as the BRO sets up alternate arrangements. Until then, residents should expect delays and should seek information from district administration helplines about safe routes for evacuation, supply pickup points and any shelter arrangements. Authorities have not reported any casualties beyond the missing driver and have asked people in downstream and low‑lying areas to take precautions against rising river levels.
The incident underlines the vulnerability of high‑altitude road links to sudden hydrological events. Local administrations face the twin tasks of locating the missing person and restoring reliable access for residents dependent on the Malari‑Niti highway for supplies and services.
