By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 21 Jul: The Char Dham Yatra resumed today after being temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure yesterday in view of adverse weather conditions and safety concerns along the pilgrimage routes. The decision to halt the Yatra for a day was taken in view of continuous heavy rainfall, landslides and falling boulders at several locations, coupled with red and orange weather alerts issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The suspension was aimed at preventing pilgrims from being exposed to the heightened risk of rockfall, landslides and sudden road blockages in the fragile Himalayan terrain.
However, as the weather conditions improved today, a detailed review of the prevailing conditions on the Yatra routes and coordination among the departments concerned was carried out today. Following the review, the administration today allowed the pilgrimage to resume. Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swaroop stated that the Char Dham Yatra is being conducted in close coordination with the district administrations, police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and other concerned departments. He said the routes are being continuously monitored and special vigilance is being maintained in vulnerable areas to ensure the safety of pilgrims.
It may be recalled that the decision to suspend the Yatra yesterday was taken in view of the fact that heavy rains had triggered landslides and boulder falls at different points in the state, affecting road connectivity and creating potentially dangerous conditions for pilgrims. In the days preceding the suspension, rain-triggered landslides and falling boulders had also disrupted movement on several stretches of the Yatra routes, while the weather department had also warned of intense rainfall in parts of Uttarakhand. The situation was particularly concerning because continuous rainfall weakens already unstable mountain slopes, increasing the possibility of sudden landslides, falling rocks and debris blocking roads and trekking routes. In view of these facts, the authorities had accordingly directed that pilgrims already on the routes should be accommodated at safe locations and that onward movement should be permitted only after the routes had been assessed and declared safe. The administration also urged pilgrims not to pay heed to rumours and to follow only official advisories regarding the status of the Yatra.
With the routes reviewed and the situation assessed as suitable for resumption, the Yatra has now resumed once again. However, the administration has made it clear that movement may again be regulated or temporarily halted at any location if heavy rain, landslides, falling boulders or any other hazard creates a threat to the safety of pilgrims. Anand Swaroop further appealed to the pilgrims that if the route gets temporarily blocked due to heavy rainfall, landslides or any other reason, they should remain only at safe locations or holding areas designated by the administration and strictly follow the instructions issued by the administration and police.
He asserted on behalf of the government that the safety of pilgrims remains the administration’s highest priority and that all the related departments have been directed to maintain constant watch over weather conditions and the status of the Yatra routes so that immediate action can be taken whenever required. The district administrations, police, SDRF and other agencies are continuing to coordinate their efforts to regulate movement and respond promptly to any disruption caused by the weather.
The administration has also appealed to pilgrims to obtain the latest weather information before beginning or resuming their journey and to plan their journey in accordance with the official advisories. Pilgrims have further been advised to rely only on information issued through official government channels and not on unverified messages circulating on social media or other digital platforms.
