Dehradun, June 29: As a precautionary measure, the popular ‘Char Dham Yatra’ in Uttarakhand has been suspended for the next 24 hours following a heavy rain alert.
Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey said that the pilgrimage has been temporarily stopped as a safety measure. "I have instructed the police and administration officials to stop pilgrims in Haridwar, Rishikesh, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Sonprayag, and Vikasnagar," Pandey said.
The suspension came after a cloudburst struck Silai Band on the Barkot-Yamunotri road in Uttarkashi district. The disaster caused nine workers to go missing at an under-construction hotel site.
Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya confirmed that the cloudburst in Baligarh, along the Barkot-Yamunotri road, caused serious damage to the hotel construction site.
"Eight to nine workers staying at the site are missing," Arya said. He also mentioned that the Yamunotri route has been badly affected.
Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Police were quickly sent to the site. Search and rescue operations are currently ongoing.
Vinod Kumar Suman, the Secretary of Disaster Management for Uttarakhand, confirmed the incident and said the government is closely watching the situation. He also mentioned that they have given necessary instructions to ensure the safety of pilgrims and locals in the area.
Heavy rainfall on Saturday caused major disruptions across Uttarakhand, including the blockage of the National Highway near Nandprayag and Bhanerpani.
In a post on the social media platform X, Chamoli Police Uttarakhand stated, "The Badrinath National Highway is blocked near Nandprayag and Bhanerpani. Work is underway to open the road."
The National Highway near Nandprayag is an important route for pilgrims heading to Kedarnath, so clearing the road is a top priority.
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has urged the public to stay cautious and avoid unnecessary travel on Saturday, as heavy rainfall is expected in the hilly areas and some plain areas of the state over the next 24 hours.
