Heavy Rain Disrupts Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand
Impact of Continuous Rainfall on Char Dham Yatra
In Uttarakhand, the persistent heavy rainfall over the past two days has significantly affected the Char Dham pilgrimage and the hilly regions. To ensure safety, the authorities have temporarily halted the Kedarnath Yatra. Continuous rain has been reported in Rudraprayag since Saturday night, leading to the precautionary measure of sheltering thousands of pilgrims in safe locations such as Guptkashi, Phata, Rampur, Shersi, Sonprayag, and Gaurikund.
Pilgrims Being Safely Evacuated
Meanwhile, pilgrims returning from Kedarnath are being carefully brought down in a phased manner. Following the directives of the district magistrate, teams from the police, SDRF, NDRF, and disaster management are on high alert. The travel routes are being monitored round the clock. The administration has made it clear that the Yatra will resume only after the weather improves.
Traffic Congestion on Badrinath and Hemkund Routes
Since the commencement of the Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib Yatra, there has been a massive influx of devotees in Chamoli. According to the SP of Chamoli, Surjeet Singh Pawar, daily, around 30,000 to 35,000 pilgrims visit Badrinath, while 5,000 to 10,000 head to Hemkund Sahib, resulting in heavy traffic on the highways. The road between Joshimath and Marwari-Vishnuprayag has suffered damage over approximately 10 kilometers, causing vehicle breakdowns and traffic jams. The police are actively working to manage the traffic flow.
Rescue Operation for Stranded Pilgrims
A significant incident was narrowly avoided during the famous Jodi Mela at the historic Reetha Sahib Gurudwara in Champawat district. Due to heavy rainfall, over 50 pilgrims became stranded in a suddenly swollen river. Upon receiving the alert, the SDRF team promptly arrived at the scene and initiated a rescue operation, successfully evacuating all the pilgrims. This timely action prevented a major disaster.
Highway Challenges Due to Waterfalls
In Vikasnagar, the Delhi-Yamunotri Highway has also faced challenges due to the rain. A waterfall located between Juddo and Lakhwad suddenly surged, causing a long line of vehicles on the Char Dham travel route. Travelers were astonished by the waterfall's ferocity, and many vehicles were stuck for hours. Fortunately, no vehicles were caught in the strong current, and traffic resumed only after the water levels decreased.
Weather Department Issues Alert
The weather department has predicted continued rainfall in the hilly areas for the next few days. In light of this, the administration has urged all travelers and local residents to remain extremely vigilant. People have been advised to rely solely on official and accurate information. The administration is closely monitoring the situation with full preparedness.