Kedarnath pilgrimage halted as landslide blocks route; thousands evacuated safely

A large landslide at Munkatia, between Sonprayag and Gaurikund in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, forced the suspension of the Kedarnath Yatra on Wednesday. Since then, rescue efforts have been in full swing, and officials confirmed that over 4,100 pilgrims have been safely evacuated from the affected area. Of these, 500 were rescued on Friday alone.

The Char Dham Yatra is an important spiritual journey for thousands of pilgrims every year. However, the monsoon rains have triggered landslides and made the journey dangerous. On Wednesday night, heavy rain washed away nearly 50 metres of the road near Munkatia, cutting off access to Kedarnath Dham for both vehicles and pedestrians.

No pilgrims left stranded on the route, says SDRF

Sub-inspector Ashish Dimri from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), who led the rescue operations, said that all the pilgrims who were stuck on the way from Kedarnath to Gaurikund have been moved to safer locations. “A full survey of the Kedarnath Yatra route up to the temple has been completed. There are no pilgrims stranded along the way,” he confirmed.

The SDRF and local authorities worked day and night to remove debris and reopen blocked roads. According to officials, over 50% of the debris on the damaged stretch has already been cleared. The route is expected to reopen for pilgrim travel by Saturday evening, but until it is fully safe, new pilgrims are being stopped at Sonprayag.

The response teams used heavy machines and received support from various government agencies to ensure the safety of travelers. The quick action prevented a larger crisis and helped in controlling panic among the stranded people.

Road damage widespread in Uttarakhand, more rain recorded

Along with the Kedarnath route, the landslide has affected several other areas in Uttarakhand. Official reports say that 84 roads remain blocked across the state. The worst-hit districts are Rudraprayag and Pithoragarh, with 20 and 17 road closures each.

In Uttarkashi, the Yamunotri National Highway near Mehargaon was blocked after boulders fell due to the rain. District disaster management teams are working to clear the highway using JCB machines, and it is expected to reopen soon.

There have also been incidents of property damage. In Khetpali village of Tehri district, a cowshed was destroyed by mud that flowed in after a night of heavy rain. Unfortunately, a buffalo inside the shed died in the incident.

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Uttarakhand has received varying levels of rainfall across its districts. Between Thursday and Friday morning, the state saw an average of 17 mm of rain. Some districts recorded much more than normal — Pithoragarh had 40.4 mm of rain, which is 90% above the usual amount. Udham Singh Nagar recorded 30.6 mm (144% surplus), Bageshwar had 105% above average, and Chamoli recorded 80% above normal levels.

Due to the ongoing rain and the risk of further landslides, the state government is urging people to avoid unnecessary travel in sensitive mountain regions. Authorities are monitoring the weather closely and are ready to act quickly if conditions worsen.

The Kedarnath Yatra holds religious and emotional significance for many, and efforts are being made to reopen the path as soon as it is safe. Pilgrims are advised to follow official updates and not attempt the journey until authorities confirm the route is ready for travel.

Safety first as efforts continue

Despite the difficult conditions, rescue and cleanup operations have progressed quickly. The SDRF, local police, and disaster management teams have shown strong coordination in handling the situation. Their prompt action has helped rescue thousands of pilgrims safely and ensured no one is left behind.

The focus now is on fully clearing the debris, checking the route for safety, and restarting the Yatra smoothly. Pilgrims planning to visit Kedarnath in the coming days are encouraged to stay updated through official government sources and not trust rumours or unofficial information.

Uttarakhand continues to deal with the impact of monsoon rains, but with strong disaster response systems in place, authorities remain hopeful that normalcy will be restored soon.