Mussoorie: Two palanquin porters from Jammu and Kashmir were killed and three others, including a pilgrim from Gujarat, were injured in a landslide on the Kedarnath Dham trek route near Jungle Chatti in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district on Wednesday morning, officials confirmed.
The incident occurred around 11:20 am, when falling debris swept several individuals into a deep gorge near the Jangalchatti stream (gadhera).
“Falling debris from the landslide swept several individuals into a deep gorge,” said Nandan Singh Rajwar, the district disaster management officer.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, and the District Disaster Response Force (DDRF) conducted a coordinated rescue operation.
Victims Identified
The deceased have been identified as:
- Nitin Kumar
- Chandrashekhar
Both were porters from Jammu and Kashmir.
Among the injured:
- Sandeep Kumar (22), porter from Jammu and Kashmir – injuries to both legs and waist
- Nitin Manhas (16), from Jammu and Kashmir – fractured right hand
- Akash Chitariya (40), pilgrim from Gujarat – sustained multiple injuries
All injured were rescued from the gorge and admitted to Gaurikund Hospital for treatment.
Safety Concerns on Kedarnath Route
The landslide has raised serious safety concerns regarding the Kedarnath pilgrimage route during the monsoon season. Authorities have urged pilgrims to remain cautious and strictly adhere to official advisories, especially as weather conditions are expected to worsen.
IMD Issues Rain and Storm Alerts
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for June 21, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall in Bageshwar, Champawat, and Nainital districts. A similar alert is in place for June 22 in Dehradun, Pauri, and other hilly regions.
“Light to moderate rain and thunderstorms are likely to continue across most districts in Uttarakhand from June 19 to 24,” said IMD Dehradun director Bikram Singh.
Rainfall and Weather Highlights
- Uttarakhand recorded an average of 7.6 mm rainfall in 24 hours ending 8:30 am Wednesday.
- Udham Singh Nagar had the highest average rainfall at 20.6 mm, followed by Pithoragarh (17.2 mm) and Nainital (12.8 mm).
- Sitlakhet (Almora) recorded 9.5 mm, the highest individual location reading.
- Thunderstorms with lightning were reported in Dehradun, Mukteshwar, and Chakrata.
- Gusty winds over 30 km/h were recorded in Chamoli (31 km/h) and Pantnagar (30 km/h).
No hailstorms were reported. Temperatures remained normal, with Mohkampur (Dehradun) recording the highest at 34.7°C and Mukteshwar the lowest at 13.8°C.
Outlook
With increased rainfall forecasted and landslides already occurring, the safety of pilgrims and porters on the Kedarnath route remains a major concern. Authorities continue to monitor conditions and urge restraint and preparedness as monsoon activity intensifies across the Himalayan state.