Uttarakhand: Rudraprayag administration ramps up security, traffic measures ahead of Kanwar yatra
Rudraprayag, July 25
Ahead of Kanwar Yatra, the Rudraprayag district administration has stepped up preparations to ensure their safety and convenience. Necessary arrangements are being put in place to facilitate a smooth and secure pilgrimage.
Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra has issued directions to the police and other concerned departments to maintain security, manage traffic efficiently, and ensure law and order throughout the Kanwar Yatra.
The administration said that ensuring a safe, hassle-free, and well-organised journey for devotees remains its top priority.
Vishal Mishra said, "Kedarnath Dham Yatra is going on smoothly. The Yatra was briefly stopped in past few days due to rainfall alerts and pilgrims were stopped at safe locations. Our team is fully prepared for the proposed Kanwar Yatra. We will monitor it and Police have also been told to prepare a traffic management plan. Extra Police force will be deployed and disaster management control room will monitor the entire Yatra."
Earlier this week, Heavy rainfall across Uttarakhand disrupted movement on the Kedarnath Yatra route.
It has also led to a sharp rise in the water level of the Sharda River, prompting authorities to issue advisories, restore blocked roads, and intensify disaster preparedness measures.
In Rudraprayag district, Superintendent of Police Niharika Tomar said an orange alert had been issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for the Kedarnath pilgrimage, and overnight rainfall caused road blockages at several locations, including Sirobagad, Banswara and Mungatiya.
Speaking to ANI, Tomar said disaster management teams, police and the district administration acted immediately after receiving information about the blockages and restored the affected stretches, following which traffic resumed.
"We are regularly issuing advisories and guidelines, as prescribed by the Meteorological Department and the government, to pilgrims and travellers regarding weather and health conditions. In view of the rainfall, travellers are being advised to remain at safe locations and are being allowed to proceed only after the weather improves and roads are reopened," she said.
Meanwhile, in Champawat district's Banbasa area, the Irrigation Department issued a red alert for the Banbasa Sharda Barrage on the India-Nepal border after the Sharda River witnessed a significant rise in water level due to continuous heavy rainfall in the Kumaon region.
As a precautionary measure, movement in the border area was restricted, while vehicular movement across the Sharda Barrage was also suspended.
Assistant Engineer Prashant Kumar said that more than one lakh cusecs of water were released from the Banbasa Sharda Barrage following heavy rainfall in the hills.
Authorities urged residents, pilgrims and travellers to strictly follow official advisories and avoid venturing into vulnerable areas until weather conditions improve.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good that they are monitoring rainfall and stopping yatra when needed. But I wish they would focus equally on ensuring proper sanitation facilities and drinking water along the route. Cleanliness is next to godliness 🙏
It's encouraging to see local authorities taking weather alerts seriously and coordinating disaster response. The orange alert from IMD should be a wake-up call for all pilgrimage sites, not just Kedarnath. Safety protocols matter.
Har Har Mahadev! 🙏 But honestly, restricting movement during bad weather is the bare minimum. What about real-time updates through apps or SMS alerts? Many pilgrims don't check news. The administration needs to use technology better.
As someone who did the Kanwar Yatra last year, I can tell you traffic management is the biggest headache. They should have dedicated lanes for pedestrians and vehicles. Also, banning loudspeakers at night would be a blessing for local residents.
Appreciate the efforts of SP Niharika Tomar and her team. But what about the Sharda River red alert? People near the border are even more vulnerable. Hope they have evacuation plans ready and are not just issuing advisories.
The Sharda Barrage releasing 1
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