With the Kanwar Yatra approaching, the Rudraprayag district administration has intensified preparations to ensure the safety and convenience of pilgrims. Officials are making arrangements to help devotees complete their journey safely and without major difficulties.
District Magistrate Vishal Mishra has directed the police and other departments concerned to strengthen security, regulate traffic and maintain law and order during the Kanwar Yatra. The administration said its main focus was to ensure a safe, smooth and organised pilgrimage for the devotees.
Vishal Mishra said the Kedarnath Dham Yatra was currently proceeding smoothly. He said the pilgrimage had been briefly halted in recent days following rainfall alerts, with pilgrims being asked to stay at safe locations. “Our team is fully prepared for the proposed Kanwar Yatra. We will keep a close watch on the situation. The police have also been directed to prepare a traffic management plan. Additional police personnel will be deployed, while the disaster management control room will monitor the entire Yatra,” he said.
Earlier this week, heavy rain in several parts of Uttarakhand affected movement along the Kedarnath Yatra route. The rainfall also caused the water level of the Sharda River to rise sharply. Authorities issued advisories, worked to reopen blocked roads and stepped up disaster preparedness measures.
In Rudraprayag district, Superintendent of Police Niharika Tomar said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued an orange alert for the Kedarnath pilgrimage. She said overnight rain led to road blockages at several places, including Sirobagad, Banswara and Mungatiya. Tomar said disaster management teams, police personnel and the district administration responded quickly after receiving information about the blockages.
The affected road stretches were cleared, following which traffic movement resumed.
“We are regularly issuing advisories and guidelines, as prescribed by the Meteorological Department and the government, to pilgrims and travellers regarding weather and health conditions. In view of the rainfall, travellers are being advised to stay at safe locations and are being allowed to move ahead only after the weather improves and the roads are reopened,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Irrigation Department issued a red alert for the Banbasa Sharda Barrage in Champawat district, near the India-Nepal border. The alert followed a significant rise in the Sharda River's water level due to continuous heavy rainfall in the Kumaon region.
As a precautionary measure, authorities restricted movement in the border area and suspended vehicular traffic across the Sharda Barrage.
Assistant Engineer Prashant Kumar said more than one lakh cusecs of water had been released from the Banbasa Sharda Barrage following heavy rain in the hills.
Authorities have appealed to residents, pilgrims and travellers to follow official advisories and avoid entering vulnerable areas until weather conditions improve.
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