Char Dham Yatra Suspended Till Sept 27 Amid Red Alert
Char Dham Yatra suspended until September 27 due to a Red Alert and extreme weather. Helicopter services to Kedarnath are also halted.
In a critical move to ensure the safety of devotees, the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand has been officially suspended from Saturday afternoon until September 27. This decision follows a Red Alert issued by both the Meteorological Centre and the State Emergency Operation Centre due to increasingly dangerous weather conditions across the state.
Safety First: Authorities Halt Pilgrimage
The suspension comes as the region grapples with severe weather shifts. Prajapati Nautiyal, the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for the Char Dham Yatra, confirmed that the move was made following directives from the Garhwal Commissioner. The primary objective is to protect pilgrims from the unpredictable and harsh elements currently hitting the mountains.
"We are continuously informing and advising pilgrims to wait until the adverse weather conditions pass before proceeding," Nautiyal stated, urging travelers to remain in safe locations and strictly follow the instructions provided by local administration.
Extreme Weather: Snowfall and Heavy Rain
The weather situation has turned intense in several high-altitude zones:
- Chamoli District: Intermittent rainfall has been reported across various parts of the district.
- Hemkund Sahib: Continuous snowfall has triggered a sharp drop in temperatures, leading to intense cold conditions.
- High-Altitude Areas: Snowfall has already begun to blanket the higher reaches, complicating travel.
Helicopter Services to Kedarnath Halted
The inclement weather has also taken a toll on aerial transport. Helicopter services for the Kedarnath Yatra have been disrupted since Saturday morning. To prevent any mishaps, all passenger movement by air has been temporarily halted. Authorities have made it clear that flight operations will only resume once the weather improves and flying conditions are deemed favorable for safe transit.
Administration on High Alert
While the situation is being monitored closely, the Rudraprayag district administration has been placed on high alert. Despite heavy rain and storms passing through the region last night, Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra reported that the pilgrimage to Kedarnath Dham has been proceeding smoothly without any reported untoward incidents.
During a review meeting, Mishra noted the following:
- River Levels: Water levels in the district rivers are currently being monitored and remain within normal limits.
- Surveillance: The entire pilgrimage route is being watched via surveillance cameras to ensure real-time monitoring.
- Public Safety: Authorities are making public announcements to keep people away from riverbanks.
"I particularly urge tourists to refrain from going to the riverbanks to take selfies or for similar activities, as there have been numerous incidents resulting in injuries and even fatalities," Mishra warned, emphasizing that the administration is fully prepared to handle any potential disaster-related situations.