The Kedarnath Yatra has been temporarily suspended amid heavy rainfall and an orange alert in Uttarakhand. Tourists have been halted from traveling to the pilgrimage, as the extreme weather may be harmful for the devotees.
Yatra will be resumed after the weather conditions improve in the region. The decision has been taken for the safety of devotees. Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swaroop said pilgrims have been stopped temporarily as a preventive measure amid adverse weather conditions.
Authorities have also directed officials to hold pilgrims at designated halt points, including Srinagar, until the weather normalises and the route is considered safe for travel.
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How Will Be The Weather?
The weather department has predicted light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorms across several parts of Uttarakhand, with snowfall also likely in higher-altitude areas. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that light to moderate rain, accompanied by thunderstorms and snowfall at places above 3,500 metres are likely to occur in most hill districts and Haridwar. Similar weather conditions are likely in many areas of Udham Singh Nagar district.
Additionally, light to moderate rain and thunderstorms, along with snowfall at elevations above 3,800 metres, in the Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar, and Pithoragarh districts. Snowfall is also likely at a few places in the remaining districts located at similar altitudes.
In higher reaches above 4,000 metres, light to moderate rain, thunderstorms, and snowfall are predicted at isolated locations. The weather department has advised caution, as adverse weather conditions may affect travel and pilgrimage activities in the state.
The halt comes at a time when the Kedarnath pilgrimage route is experiencing an unprecedented rush of devotees. Thousands of pilgrims are arriving daily to offer prayers at the famous temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
The heavy influx of visitors has led to severe crowding along the trekking route. Visuals from the area showed long queues of devotees moving slowly on the narrow mountain paths.