The Char Dham Yatra has been postponed for a day, in view of the continuous heavy rainfall and the possibility of landslides. This precautionary step has been taken for the safety of life and property.
The administration of the concerned districts has been put on alert, and relief and rescue teams have been activated. The decision regarding further travel will be taken after reviewing the weather conditions and routes tomorrow.
Devotees have been asked to follow the guidelines issued by the administration and not leave for the travel sites till the weather becomes normal: Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey
Char Dham Yatra, one of the most revered pilgrimages for Hindus, is all set to commence in April this year. The journey covers four sacred temples in Uttarakhand – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Lakhs of devotees undertake this trip every year in search of spiritual enlightenment and inner peace.
The suspension followed a cloudburst that hit Silai Band on the Barkot-Yamunotri road in Uttarkashi district, leaving as many as nine workers missing at an under-construction hotel site.
Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Police were immediately dispatched to the site, and search and rescue operations were underway.
Vinod Kumar Suman, Secretary of Disaster Management for Uttarakhand, also confirmed the incident and said the government was closely monitoring the situation. Suman added that necessary instructions had been passed to ensure the safety of pilgrims and residents in the region.
Continuous rainfall on Saturday caused severe disruptions across Uttarakhand, including blockage of the National Highway near Nandprayag and Bhanerpani.
In a post on the social media platform X, Chamoli Police Uttarakhand stated, “The Badrinath National Highway is blocked near Nandprayag and Bhanerpani. Work is underway to open the road.”
The National Highway near Nandprayag is a critical route for pilgrims travelling to Kedarnath, making the clearance of the road a priority.
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has appealed to the public to remain cautious and avoid unnecessary travel on Saturday, due to the forecasted heavy rainfall in the state`s hilly and some plain areas over the next 24 hours.