DEHRADUN: The Char Dham yatra has been temporarily halted for two days starting Sunday due to a heavy rain warning issued by the regional meteorological centre.
Garhwal commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey issued an order late Saturday evening, urging pilgrims to halt journeys and remain in place until the weather improves. Since the yatra began on May 10, over 3 million pilgrims have visited the Char Dham shrines.However, heavy rain over the past 72 hours has triggered landslides, blocking the NH to Badrinath at multiple points. Over 100 roads, including major NHs, have been blocked due to frequent rain-induced landslides. Over 10 people have died since June 15 in rain-related incidents.
Rishikesh-Badrinath NH washed away at Baldora in Chamoli
According to information provided by the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), “The Rishikesh-Badrinath national highway has been washed away at Baldora in Chamoli district.” Over 10 people have died and five injured since June 15 in natural disaster-related incidents, with most casualties occurring this month.
On Saturday, two pilgrims from Hyderabad were killed after being crushed under boulders following a rain-triggered landslide near Karnaprayag in Chamoli district. They were returning from Badrinath on a motorcycle when the accident occurred.
In a separate incident on Saturday night, a man fell into a crater formed after a portion of the road connecting Picture Palace to Landour road in Mussoorie was washed away by heavy rain, sustaining serious injuries.
In Almora’s Golna Kariya village, a family narrowly escaped when a wall of their house collapsed on Sunday morning. Although there were no deaths, the family was trapped inside by rainwater until rescued by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
Heavy rain at Jhankar Saem temple caused a 200-year-old tree to collapse, damaging the nearby guesthouse and parking area. The temple priest and another person escaped unscathed.
Uttarakhand has been on high alert since Saturday following the Met centre’s heavy rainfall warning.
Several areas in the state received over 100mm of rain in the past 24 hours –Champawat recorded 179mm, Nainital 161mm, Devprayag 161mm, Kotdwar 132mm, Haldwani 101mm, and Almora 75mm.
On Saturday, a bridge in Almora connecting Ranikhet to Ramnagar was washed away, affecting connectivity in the area.
(Inputs from Tanmayee Tyagi in Dehradun, Yogesh Nagarkoti in Almora & Anmol Jain in Mussoorie)
Garhwal commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey issued an order late Saturday evening, urging pilgrims to halt journeys and remain in place until the weather improves. Since the yatra began on May 10, over 3 million pilgrims have visited the Char Dham shrines.However, heavy rain over the past 72 hours has triggered landslides, blocking the NH to Badrinath at multiple points. Over 100 roads, including major NHs, have been blocked due to frequent rain-induced landslides. Over 10 people have died since June 15 in rain-related incidents.
Rishikesh-Badrinath NH washed away at Baldora in Chamoli
According to information provided by the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), “The Rishikesh-Badrinath national highway has been washed away at Baldora in Chamoli district.” Over 10 people have died and five injured since June 15 in natural disaster-related incidents, with most casualties occurring this month.
On Saturday, two pilgrims from Hyderabad were killed after being crushed under boulders following a rain-triggered landslide near Karnaprayag in Chamoli district. They were returning from Badrinath on a motorcycle when the accident occurred.
In a separate incident on Saturday night, a man fell into a crater formed after a portion of the road connecting Picture Palace to Landour road in Mussoorie was washed away by heavy rain, sustaining serious injuries.
In Almora’s Golna Kariya village, a family narrowly escaped when a wall of their house collapsed on Sunday morning. Although there were no deaths, the family was trapped inside by rainwater until rescued by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
Heavy rain at Jhankar Saem temple caused a 200-year-old tree to collapse, damaging the nearby guesthouse and parking area. The temple priest and another person escaped unscathed.
Uttarakhand has been on high alert since Saturday following the Met centre’s heavy rainfall warning.
Several areas in the state received over 100mm of rain in the past 24 hours –Champawat recorded 179mm, Nainital 161mm, Devprayag 161mm, Kotdwar 132mm, Haldwani 101mm, and Almora 75mm.
On Saturday, a bridge in Almora connecting Ranikhet to Ramnagar was washed away, affecting connectivity in the area.
(Inputs from Tanmayee Tyagi in Dehradun, Yogesh Nagarkoti in Almora & Anmol Jain in Mussoorie)
