Char Dham Yatra suspended amid heavy rainfall, landslides in Uttarakhand
Dehradun, July 28
The Char Dham Yatra has been suspended for Tuesday and Wednesday in the interest of pilgrim safety, due to landslides blocking the routes at several locations and a heavy rainfall alert in Uttarakhand, according to the Commissioner of Garhwal Division.
The pilgrimage will resume once weather conditions improve, according to the officials.
As incessant monsoon showers continue to batter Uttarakhand, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for several districts, prompting the state administration to step up precautionary measures and urge residents as well as pilgrims to remain vigilant.
In view of the forecast of heavy rainfall, the administration has appealed to people to stay away from rivers and streams, avoid non-essential travel, and exercise extreme caution while moving through hilly regions where the possibility of landslides remains high.
Authorities have also advised both local residents and tourists to strictly follow weather advisories and instructions issued by the Meteorological Department and district administrations.
As a precautionary measure amid the forecast of intense rainfall, all schools and Anganwadi centres across the affected areas will remain closed on Tuesday.
According to the weather department, heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning is likely in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri and Pauri Garhwal districts over the coming hours.
Officials warned that continuous rainfall could significantly increase the risk of landslides, falling rocks and other weather-related hazards in the mountainous regions.
Heavy and continuous rainfall has also caused damage to the newly constructed bridge over the Tons River at Nanda Ki Chowki in Prem Nagar, disrupting traffic connectivity between Dehradun, Vikasnagar and neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As a regular pilgrim to Badrinath, I appreciate this precaution. But the state government must also ensure proper drainage and road maintenance to minimize such disruptions every year. It's heartbreaking when devotees are stuck midway. 😔
I'm from the US and planning to visit India for the yatra next month. This makes me a bit nervous, but I understand that safety comes first. Good to see the authorities are proactive. Fingers crossed for better weather! 🤞
The bridge collapse near Prem Nagar is worrying. Infrastructure needs to be more resilient to heavy rains. Also, why is the orange alert only for some districts? What about the others? Hope the administration covers all bases. Stay safe everyone! 🏞️
It's disheartening for devotees who have been planning this yatra for months. But nature is bigger than all of us. The timing of the yatra should perhaps be shifted to post-monsoon to avoid such chaos every year. Just a thought. 💭
Commendable response from the Garhwal Commissioner. The orange alert and school closures show they are taking this seriously. However, I hope more permanent solutions are discussed, like early warning systems for landslides in these areas. 🌧️
R We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.