Kedarnath Yatra halted after landslide blocks Gaurikund trekking route amid heavy rainfall
Rudraprayag, July 30
The Kedarnath Yatra was suspended on Thursday after a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall blocked the trekking route near Gaurikund, while debris and boulders also disrupted traffic on the Kedarnath Highway near Munkatiya.
A massive landslide occurred around 200 metres ahead of the Gaurikund Gate, with a large amount of debris and boulders falling onto the trekking route and completely blocking access to the pilgrimage path.
Following the incident, the administration immediately suspended the pilgrimage as a precautionary measure and shifted stranded pilgrims to safe locations.
Teams from the police, district administration, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and other concerned departments rushed to the spot to assess the situation and carry out clearance and restoration operations.
However, continuous rainfall and intermittent rockfalls from the hillside have hampered the ongoing restoration work, officials said. Heavy rainfall triggered landslides and erosion at several locations along the Kedarnath Highway in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district, disrupting vehicular traffic, with authorities launching restoration work to reopen the route.
Meanwhile, traffic movement on the Kedarnath Highway near Munkatiya has also been disrupted after debris and rocks fell onto the road, blocking the route.
The district administration has urged pilgrims not to proceed towards Kedarnath without official permission and asked them to strictly follow the advisories issued by the authorities.
The Kedarnath Yatra will resume only after the trekking route is cleared and declared completely safe for pilgrims.
Furthermore, District Magistrate Vishal Mishra inspected the affected stretches of the highway to assess the ground situation and directed officials to restore connectivity at the earliest.
Speaking to ANI, Mishra said reports of landslides were received from several locations late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, including on the Kedarnath Highway, which serves as a key route for the Char Dham Yatra and the pilgrimage to Shri Kedarnath Dham.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, the administration should have been more prepared. Every year we see heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand during monsoon, yet the route maintenance seems inadequate. SDRF and police are doing good work on ground, but better planning could avoid last-minute panic.
This is exactly why we should reconsider the timing of these pilgrimages. Monsoon season is beautiful but treacherous. Baba Kedarnath will wait for devotees, but lives should not be risked. Let the weather improve.
The resilience of our SDRF and local teams is commendable. They rush to these dangerous spots every time while other departments sit in offices. But why can't we have permanent barriers or early warning systems near Gaurikund? Let's use technology to protect pilgrims.
As someone who has done this Yatra before, I know how challenging the terrain is. But the devotion of pilgrims is incredible. I hope the weather clears and everyone gets to complete their pilgrimage safely. Stay safe, everyone. 🙏
I feel for the stranded pilgrims who must be anxious and cold in this rain. The district administration shifting them to safer places is good, but we need better infrastructure for emergencies. And yes, tourists should strictly follow advisories—not everyone does.
J James A