Kedarnath Yatra Disrupted Due to Severe Weather Warnings

Severe Weather Disrupts Kedarnath Pilgrimage

The Kedarnath pilgrimage has been interrupted following warnings from the meteorological department regarding strong winds, lightning, and thunderstorms. The Rudraprayag district administration, along with disaster management teams, is closely monitoring sensitive areas along the pilgrimage route and is halting travelers at designated safe spots due to adverse weather conditions. Nandan Singh Rajwar, the District Disaster Management Officer (DDMO) of Rudraprayag, informed that warnings issued every two hours pose a significant risk to the Kedarnath pilgrimage, with heavy rainfall and fog expected at any moment. Sector officers and security personnel are actively managing the movement of pilgrims, preventing them from proceeding during bad weather, and allowing them to continue only when conditions improve.

Aviation Safety Under Scrutiny

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and district authorities are also maintaining strict oversight on aviation safety. Helicopter services remain suspended during periods of poor visibility and adverse weather, with operations set to resume only when it is deemed safe to fly. Meanwhile, the disaster control room in Rudraprayag is continuously monitoring the Kedarnath shrine, trekking routes, and other travel destinations. Rescue and relief teams are on standby to address any emergencies.

Traffic Management for Increased Tourist Flow

In anticipation of heavy crowds over the weekend due to the Char Dham Yatra, Hemkund Sahib pilgrimage, and summer vacations, the Dehradun police have implemented a comprehensive traffic diversion plan for May 24. This plan has been established due to the expected surge in traffic from tourists arriving via the newly constructed Delhi-Dehradun expressway. The objective is to alleviate congestion on routes leading to Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Chakrata, and the Char Dham corridor.

Organized Traffic Network in Dehradun

Following directives from the SSP of Dehradun, the traffic network has been organized into four super zones, ten zones, and 19 sectors, with 130 police personnel and officers deployed for traffic management. Two drone teams have been assigned to monitor the Mussoorie route, Dehradun city, and major tourist spots. Vehicles heading to Mussoorie from Delhi, Haryana, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, and Roorkee are being diverted through various checkpoints including Datkali, RTO checkpost, Transport Nagar, ISBT, Shimla bypass, Ballupur, Cantt, and Kuthal Gate. In case of increased congestion, vehicles are being redirected via the Kimadi-Hathipaw road.