Dehradun: The Chardham yatra has been temporarily suspended as the weather department predicts heavy to very heavy rainfall in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand on July 7-8. Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey announced the decision to postpone the pilgrimage to ensure the safety of devotees.
In light of the weather forecast, Pandey urged all devotees not to embark on the Chardham yatra beyond Rishikesh on July 7. Those who have already begun their journey are advised to remain at their current locations until weather conditions improve for safe travel.
Recent heavy rains across Uttarakhand have triggered landslides in the hilly terrain, blocking the highway to Badrinath at multiple points due to falling debris. The hazardous conditions resulted in a tragic incident where two pilgrims from Hyderabad lost their lives on Saturday. They were struck by boulders during a landslide near Chatwapeepal area of Karnaprayag in Chamoli district while returning from Badrinath on a motorcycle.
Additionally, the rivers of Uttarakhand, including the Alaknanda River near Vishnu Prayag close to Joshimath, are flowing near the danger mark. Vishnu Prayag is a confluence point where the Alaknanda River merges with the Dhauli Ganga.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and will assess when it is safe to resume the Chardham yatra once the weather conditions stabilize.
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