
<p>August 19, 2023 – Ram Jhula Bridge, a major attraction for both domestic and international tourists, has been closed to the public due to safety concerns. Heavy rainfall in the region has caused a crack to appear near the foundation of the bridge in the Munikireti area.</p>



<p>It is believed that the rising waters of the Ganges River contributed to this structural issue. As a precautionary measure under the directive of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) for safety reasons, the access for tourists to Ram Jhula Bridge has been restricted. Police have placed barricades to prevent tourists from accessing the bridge.</p>



<p>The Weather Department has issued a yellow alert for the next twenty-four hours in seven districts. According to the department, there is a likelihood of thunderstorms and heavy rainfall in the Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Nainital, Bageshwar, Champawat, and Pithoragarh districts. Lighter rainfall is expected in other districts.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">323 Roads Closed in the State </h2>



<p>Due to heavy rainfall and subsequent landslides in various regions of the state, 323 roads are currently closed. Only 126 roads could be reopened within a day. Chief Engineer of PWD, Deepak Kumar, stated that the closed roads include 12 state highways, seven major district roads, nine other district roads, 135 rural roads, and 160 PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana) roads. As of the previous day, 337 roads were closed, and 112 roads were closed by Wednesday.</p>



<p>Out of a total of 449 closed roads, 126 were reopened by Wednesday evening. However, 323 roads are still inaccessible. He mentioned that 264 JCB machines were deployed for road-clearing efforts.</p>

