The Char Dham Yatra has been temporarily suspended for the next 24 hours due to a heavy rain alert, officials announced on Sunday.
Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey shared that the decision was taken as a precautionary step to ensure the safety of pilgrims.
"I have given instructions to the police and administration officials to stop the pilgrims in Haridwar, Rishikesh, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Sonprayag and Vikasnagar," he said.
The alert comes after a cloudburst in Silai Band, located on the Barkot–Yamunotri road in Uttarkashi district, where eight to nine workers have gone missing from a hotel construction site.
Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya confirmed that the incident in Baligarh along the same route caused major damage to the site where the hotel was being constructed, and that rescue operations are in full swing. . "Eight-nine workers staying at this under-construction hotel site are missing," Arya further said, adding that the Yamunotri route has also been majorly affected.
Teams from the NDRF, SDRF, and local police have been deployed for search and rescue efforts.
Vinod Kumar Suman, Secretary of Disaster Management, said the state government is closely monitoring the situation and has issued necessary instructions to protect both pilgrims and local residents.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall on Saturday caused widespread disruptions across the state. The Badrinath National Highway is currently blocked near Nandprayag and Bhanerpani, significantly affecting travel to Kedarnath. Chamoli Police confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that work is underway to reopen the route.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has urged people to stay cautious and avoid unnecessary travel, as more rain is expected in both hill regions and parts of the plains over the next 24 hours.
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