Heavy rain and repeated landslides across Uttarakhand have forced authorities to pull the brakes on the Char Dham Yatra. The pilgrimage has been completely suspended for two days, Tuesday and Wednesday, to keep devotees out of harm's way.
What the administration said
The Garhwal division commissioner has confirmed that the Char Dham route has been blocked by landslide debris at multiple points. A heavy rainfall alert is also in force for the region. Citing the safety of pilgrims, officials decided to halt the yatra for today and tomorrow. The route will reopen only once conditions improve, according to the administration.
The journey from Yamunotri to Badrinath
The Char Dham Yatra typically begins from Haridwar or Rishikesh. Along the way, pilgrims travel to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath for darshan. The route usually stays open from around May-June through November, and shuts down once heavy snowfall sets in during winter.
Weeks of relentless monsoon damage
Uttarakhand's hill districts have been battered by monsoon rain for several weeks now. Landslides have repeatedly shut dozens of roads on different days, badly disrupting movement for travellers. The Char Dham Yatra isn't alone in feeling the impact, the Vaishno Devi and Amarnath yatras in the neighbouring region were also halted for days at a stretch because of the same weather pattern. The Yamunotri highway itself had to be shut at one point. It all points to an unusually severe monsoon season for the hill states this year.
What happens next
Authorities are keeping a close watch on the weather. The yatra will only resume once the rain eases and debris is cleared from the affected stretches of the route. Until then, pilgrims have been advised to stay at safe locations and follow the administration's instructions.
