In response to heavy rainfall in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, the Kedarnath Yatra has been temporarily halted at Sonprayag, according to officials on Sunday. Rudraprayag District Magistrate Mayur Dixit stated, “Kedarnath will remain closed until further notice due to the ongoing heavy rains.”
The inclement weather has affected various parts of Uttarakhand, with Haridwar recording 78 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, followed by Dehradun (33.2 mm) and Uttarkashi (27.7 mm), as reported by the India Meteorological Department.
In response to the prevailing conditions, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted a surprise inspection of the State Disaster Management Control Room located at the Secretariat. During the visit, he received updates on the heavy rainfall situation in the state, as stated in a press release.
Chief Minister Dhami instructed the officers to maintain constant communication and coordination with the districts experiencing heavy rains to ensure timely response to any emergency situations. He emphasized the need for officers to remain on high alert for disaster relief and rescue operations.
Meanwhile, the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand has witnessed a significant influx of pilgrims. As of June 22, over 30 lakh (3 million) pilgrims have visited the Char Dham, with more than 10 lakh (1 million) pilgrims making the journey to Kedarnath alone, according to Director General of Police Ashok Kumar.
Efforts are being made to facilitate a safe and smooth pilgrimage experience for devotees, with the Uttarakhand police personnel dedicated to ensuring a hassle-free darshan and secure Char Dham Yatra. Director General of Police Ashok Kumar highlighted the numbers, stating, “So far, more than 30 lakh (3 million) devotees have left for their destinations after visiting Char Dham, with Shri Kedarnath alone being visited by over 10 lakh (1 million) devotees.”
The Char Dham Yatra comprises the four sacred shrines of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. The doors of Gangotri and Yamunotri opened for devotees on April 22, coinciding with the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya. The doors of Kedarnath Dham were opened on April 25, followed by Badrinath Dham on April 27.
As the weather conditions improve and the situation stabilizes, authorities will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure the safety and well-being of pilgrims participating in the revered Char Dham Yatra.
Sources By Agencies
