Following a severe weather warning and a destructive cloudburst near Yamunotri, officials have halted the Char Dham pilgrimage for 24 hours, prioritising the safety of pilgrims across Uttarakhand.
Dehradun, June 29 – The Char Dham Yatra has been suspended for 24 hours due to a heavy rain alert and a devastating cloudburst that struck parts of Uttarkashi district, officials confirmed on Sunday.
The decision was taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of thousands of pilgrims traveling to the sacred sites of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Vinay Shankar Pandey, Garhwal Division Commissioner, announced the suspension and instructed law enforcement and local authorities to halt pilgrim movement in critical transit zones including Haridwar, Rishikesh, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Sonprayag, and Vikasnagar.
The suspension comes in the wake of a cloudburst at Silai Band on the Barkot-Yamunotri road, which led to the collapse of an under-construction hotel site, leaving at least nine workers missing. The incident caused significant disruption along the Yamunotri route, which is now partially inaccessible.
Confirming the damage, Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya stated:
“The cloudburst at Baligarh, along the Barkot-Yamunotri Marg, has severely affected the region. Eight to nine workers who were staying at the construction site are currently unaccounted for.”
Rescue efforts have been swiftly launched with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local police deployed to the affected area. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with authorities racing against time under challenging weather conditions.
Vinod Kumar Suman, Secretary of Disaster Management, Uttarakhand, confirmed that the state government is monitoring the situation closely.
“We’ve issued all necessary instructions to ensure the safety of pilgrims and local residents, and we’re coordinating closely with field teams,” Suman said.
In addition to the Yamunotri region, continuous rainfall on Saturday led to road blockages and travel disruptions across the state. Notably, the Badrinath National Highway was blocked near Nandprayag and Bhanerpani, key access points for pilgrims heading to Kedarnath.
The Chamoli Police, in a post on social media platform X, confirmed:
“The Badrinath National Highway is blocked near Nandprayag and Bhanerpani. Efforts are currently underway to clear the road.”
Given the high risk of landslides and further cloudbursts, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has issued a public advisory, urging citizens and pilgrims to remain cautious and avoid unnecessary travel over the next 24 hours.
“We request all residents and pilgrims to prioritize safety, especially in vulnerable hilly and low-lying areas,” Dhami said.
The Char Dham Yatra, which draws lakhs of devotees each year, has been significantly impacted by erratic weather in recent years. The current suspension is a stark reminder of the fragile ecosystem in Uttarakhand’s mountainous terrain and the challenges of managing mass pilgrimage during the monsoon season.