(FE)
The authorities have suspended the Kedarnath Yatra from Sonprayag until further notice after one person was killed and two others injured following a landslide that struck the walkway to Kedarnath in Rudraprayag district. According to a statement from Rudraprayag Police, the landslide was triggered by continuous heavy rainfall, sending debris and large stones crashing onto the trekking route. The walkway to Kedarnath Dham has been blocked and damaged after the landslide.
Officials added that a yellow alert has been issued for the region, forecasting persistent rainfall over the coming days. Citing safety concerns for devotees, the district administration has decided to suspend access to the footpath from Sonprayag as a precautionary measure.
Rudraprayag police said, “The footpath to Kedarnath Dham has been suspended from Sonprayag till further orders. Only in the Jangalchatti area, passengers stranded in the landslide affected area are being sent down under police protection. The district police appeals to the pilgrims coming to Shri Kedarnath Dham to stay safe wherever they are and stay in hotels, etc., at nearby places,” it further added.
The authorities are clearing the debris, and passengers who were stranded in the affected area are being safely escorted down under police protection.
The police further added, “According to the information received some time ago, the footpath to Kedarnath Dham has been partially blocked due to debris falling in the ravine due to continuous heavy rain near Jangalchatti. According to the information received so far, one person has died and two people have been injured due to debris falling in the ravine.”
A yellow alert has been issued for the Rudraprayag region, with forecasts predicting continuous rainfall throughout the week. In light of these adverse weather conditions and prioritising the safety of pilgrims, authorities have taken the precautionary measure to halt the footpath to Kedarnath Dham.
The Rudraprayag Police have urged all devotees currently en route to Kedarnath to remain in their current locations, seeking shelter in nearby hotels and safe accommodations. They have also appealed to individuals planning the wider Char Dham Yatra to closely monitor weather forecasts and travel advisories before embarking on their journey.
The Char Dham Yatra 2025, which includes the shrines of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, officially commenced on April 30. The doors of Kedarnath Dham, a highly revered temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, opened on May 2. These high-altitude shrines traditionally remain closed for six months each year, opening in the summer months and closing with the onset of winter. The current suspension underscores the significant impact of the monsoon season on pilgrimage routes in the Himalayan region.
