Garhwal Post Bureau
Rudraprayag, 17 Jul: Continuous rainfall in the higher hills in Garhwal region has forced the temporary suspension of the Kedarnath Yatra after large boulders fell on the pedestrian route, creating serious safety concerns for pilgrims. Late last night, near Bhairavnath temple in the Junglechatti area, heavy boulders rolled down onto the path, leading to a complete halt of movement. The administration, acting on the instructions of the commissioner, stopped the pilgrimage today morning until the route is declared safe. The Police, DDRF and other departments rushed to the site to clear the debris and are maintaining constant vigil over the situation.
The district administration has confirmed that the pedestrian route remains closed until further notice. The pilgrims have been stopped at the Gaurikund gate and asked to return, with no permission granted to proceed further. This morning, fresh boulders also blocked the Gaurikund–Chilbasa stretch, compounding the disruption. The administration has appealed to the devotees not to attempt the journey until weather conditions improve and the route is fully secured.
District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar stated that the safety of pilgrims is the top priority and the yatra will resume only after a thorough security inspection of the route. He urged all travellers to strictly follow the advisory and refrain from moving ahead until official clearance is issued. The suspension of the yatra has affected thousands of devotees, but officials emphasised that the precautionary measure is essential to prevent any untoward incident.
The administration has assured that restoration work is being carried out on a war footing to make the damaged route safe and functional again. Teams from the police, DDRF and related agencies are engaged in removing boulders and stabilising vulnerable stretches. Once the path is declared secure, the Kedarnath Yatra will be reopened, allowing pilgrims to continue their journey to the shrine.
