Rudraprayag, May 31:The annual Kedarnath pilgrimage resumed on Sunday after being temporarily suspended earlier in the day due to heavy rainfall and adverse weather conditions across Uttarakhand. Authorities allowed the movement of pilgrims to restart after weather conditions improved and operations on the Kedarnath trekking route were restored.
The suspension was imposed as a precautionary measure following an orange alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), warning of intense rainfall in several parts of the state. However, with rainfall subsiding and visibility improving, stranded pilgrims were permitted to continue their journey toward the revered Himalayan shrine.
District authorities have cautioned that the pilgrimage could face further interruptions if weather conditions deteriorate later in the day. Pilgrims have been advised to remain alert and follow instructions issued by local administration and disaster management teams.
Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra said the region had witnessed significant rainfall overnight, prompting authorities to take preventive measures to ensure the safety of devotees.
“We received information from the weather department regarding an orange alert for today, while a yellow alert has been forecast for tomorrow. Considering the prevailing weather conditions, we requested pilgrims travelling toward Kedarnath and other pilgrimage sites to halt at designated holding areas and safe locations,” Mishra said.
He added that officials were closely monitoring the situation through the district control room as well as through teams deployed on the ground.
“Our primary objective is to ensure that no pilgrim faces any untoward incident. The safety of devotees remains our top priority,” he stated.
As part of precautionary measures, officials stationed at Sonprayag, Gaurikund and other landslide-prone stretches of the pilgrimage route were instructed not to allow pilgrims to proceed until conditions became favourable. Once the weather improved, devotees who had been waiting at designated shelters and holding areas were allowed to continue their onward journey.
Meanwhile, helicopter services operating on the Kedarnath route remain temporarily suspended due to persistent fog and poor visibility caused by heavy rainfall. Authorities said services would resume only after weather conditions become suitable for safe flying operations.
With Uttarakhand witnessing continuous rainfall over the past two days, the administration has established several holding centres in plains areas such as Dehradun, Rishikesh and Haridwar. These facilities are equipped with basic amenities, including food, drinking water, medical assistance and accommodation arrangements for pilgrims awaiting clearance to proceed.
District Magistrate Mishra said the administration has also been collecting feedback from devotees to improve arrangements and ensure the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
“Some issues have been brought to our notice, and we are making every effort to facilitate pilgrims so that they can complete their darshan with minimum inconvenience and waiting time,” he said.
The administration is also paying special attention to crowd management at the Kedarnath temple premises. Officials are ensuring strict implementation of the token system to regulate the flow of devotees and prevent overcrowding.
Mishra further revealed that authorities have received r
