The relentless and heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand has created extremely difficult conditions. The overflowing rivers and landslides in various places are causing significant hardship to the pilgrims undertaking the Char Dham Yatra.
Char Dham Yatra: The intense rainfall in Uttarakhand over the past few days has led to a temporary halt in the Char Dham Yatra. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami himself announced this decision. He stated that the Char Dham Yatra is being temporarily suspended. The journey will resume only when the weather normalizes and the routes become safe.
In fact, the continuous rainfall in Uttarakhand has made the situation dangerous in the mountainous regions. Several incidents of landslides, debris falling, and road damage have been reported, which could put the lives of pilgrims traveling to Char Dham at risk. Considering this, the government took a major decision and temporarily suspended the yatra.
Safety of Pilgrims is Paramount
The Chief Minister made it clear that the safety of the pilgrims is the top priority of his government. The CM said that all district magistrates have been instructed to remain vigilant and to deploy disaster management teams. NDRF and SDRF teams are present at the site to provide immediate assistance in any emergency situation.
Rescue of 40 Pilgrims in Sonprayag
Meanwhile, a piece of good news has also emerged from Sonprayag, where more than 40 pilgrims returning from Kedarnath were stranded due to a landslide. Late on Monday night, the sudden landslide blocked the road, trapping the pilgrims in the debris. Upon receiving this information, SDRF teams reached the spot at night and, after conducting a rescue operation in risky conditions, safely evacuated all the passengers.
An SDRF officer said, "The road was blocked around 10 pm due to heavy rain. But our teams took immediate action, and after an overnight operation, all the pilgrims were taken to a safe place."
Weather Fury Continues in Uttarakhand
The monsoon is currently active with full force in Uttarakhand. Traffic has been disrupted on the Badrinath Highway in Chamoli district due to landslides in various places. Chamoli Police informed that the highway has been blocked due to heavy debris near Badrish Hotel. The condition of the Yamunotri National Highway is also bad. The police say that a section of the road has been washed away between Silai Band and Ozari, completely blocking the route. According to the Uttarkashi Police, the Yamunotri Highway is closed in two places, and it may take time to open the road.
The state government has clarified that the Char Dham Yatra will be resumed only when all routes are completely safe and passable for travelers. Disaster management teams, police force, forest department, and local administration are fully engaged on the spot. The local administration has appealed to the pilgrims and travelers not to embark on the journey without official permission and weather information. Pilgrims who had planned the yatra have been advised to stay at their destination until the weather completely normalizes.
The Meteorological Department has issued a heavy rainfall alert for the next 48 hours, raising the possibility of the situation worsening. The administration has started monitoring the situation with the help of drones and modern equipment so that rescue operations can be carried out immediately in any emergency situation.
