The Uttarakhand administration has temporarily suspended the Char Dham Yatra due to continuous heavy rain, landslides along the pilgrimage routes and red and orange weather alerts issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The move has been taken to ensure the safety of pilgrims.
Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey has directed all District Magistrates and officials to arrange safe accommodation for pilgrims who are already on the route. Pilgrims will be allowed to continue their journey only after the roads and routes are declared safe.
Officials have also been asked to keep pilgrims and the public informed through regular updates in the media and other official communication channels. The administration said the suspension is purely a precautionary step. It stressed that the safety of pilgrims remains the highest priority. The Yatra will resume once weather conditions improve and the routes are considered safe for travel.
Pilgrims have been urged not to believe rumours and to rely only on official information issued by the administration. They have also been asked to follow the instructions of district authorities until the situation returns to normal.
In Rudraprayag district, continuous rain has caused the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers to rise close to their warning levels. The increased water flow has submerged ghats developed under the Namami Gange project.
The Rudraprayag administration has placed all departments on high alert as light rain and dense fog continue across the district. Rainfall during the past 24 hours measured 22 mm in Rudraprayag, 77 mm in Ukhimath and 53 mm in Jakholi, according to the administration.
The latest monitoring showed the Alaknanda River at 625.00 metres and the Mandakini River at 624.15 metres, both nearing their warning marks. Water levels were also recorded at 799.90 metres in Ganganagar and 1,974.12 metres in Gaurikund.
The District Emergency Operations Centre has instructed all departments to remain fully prepared for any rain-related emergencies. Residents and pilgrims have been advised to stay away from riverbanks and remain alert until the weather improves.
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