The Char Dham Yatra resumed on Monday after a 24-hour suspension was lifted, officials said, as weather conditions slightly improved in parts of Uttarakhand. The pilgrimage had been halted due to continuous rainfall and the heightened risk of landslides across key routes.
Garhwal Divisional Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey confirmed the development, saying, “The 24-hour ban on the Char Dham Yatra has been lifted.” District Magistrates across the Yatra route have been asked to regulate vehicular movement depending on local weather conditions, he added.
The suspension was imposed on Sunday as a precautionary measure following a cloudburst near Silai on the Barkot-Ydamunotri road in Uttarkashi district.
The cloudburst occurred near an under-construction hotel, where 29 workers had taken shelter. Twenty of them were rescued. Debris from the site blocked multiple points along the Yamunotri National Highway, affecting access to the shrine. Authorities later cleared the route, officials said.
Elsewhere, roads remained blocked in several parts of the state. Landslides disrupted traffic on the National Highway near Nandprayag and Bhaneropani. The Sonprayag–Munkatiya road in Rudraprayag — a key segment for Kedarnath-bound pilgrims — also remained closed.
Heavy rain has continued in Chamoli, Pauri Garhwal, Dehradun, Rudraprayag and nearby districts. With rivers flowing dangerously close to the danger mark, the administration has issued fresh advisories urging people living near riverbanks to stay alert and take necessary precautions.
The Char Dham Yatra, which includes pilgrimages to Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, sees lakhs of devotees each year. This year’s yatra has been frequently affected by extreme weather conditions.
-IANS
