By ARUN PRATAP SINGH
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 29 June: The Char Dham Yatra has been suspended for the next 24 hours as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for multiple districts across Uttarakhand due to relentless and widespread monsoon rains. The decision to halt the Yatra, taken in the wake of the escalating weather crisis, comes following a fresh cloudburst in Uttarkashi early this morning, further aggravating an already precarious situation across the hill state.
The Garhwal Commissioner has shared that the decision to halt the Yatra has been taken to ensure the safety of pilgrims’ lives and property. This step aims to prevent any inconvenience to devotees stranded on the routes and to facilitate their movement to safe locations. The administrations of the concerned districts have been placed on alert, and relief and rescue teams have been activated.
Pandey further stated that a decision regarding the resumption of the yatra would be made tomorrow, following a review of the weather situation and road conditions. Pilgrims have been urged to comply with the guidelines issued by the administration and to avoid proceeding towards the pilgrimage sites until the weather normalises.
District Magistrate, Uttarkashi, Prashant Kumar Arya confirmed that acting on a warning issued by the Dehradun Meteorological Centre and under directives from the Chief Minister and the Garhwal Commissioner, the district administration has suspended all Char Dham pilgrimages temporarily. Police and Sub-Divisional Magistrates have been tasked with immediately shifting all pilgrims to safe shelters. Yatris have been urged not to proceed towards Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath shrines till the weather improves.
The Dehradun Meteorological Centre has forecast thunderstorms accompanied by moderate to heavy rain across several districts, including Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Haridwar, Champawat, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar over the next two days. These areas are now under a red alert, in view of the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall with potential to cause significant disruption. Meanwhile, Bageshwar has been placed under Orange Alert due to expected very heavy downpours in isolated pockets, while a general Yellow Alert has been extended to all districts, cautioning of lightning strikes and intense showers.
As per IMD, over the next three days, from 29 June to 1 July, in all, seven districts will remain under red alert. Meteorological Centre Director Bikram Singh elaborated that the current active monsoon phase is expected to trigger dangerous weather patterns, particularly in the districts of Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Haridwar, Nainital, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar. The alert period may witness rainfall exceeding 200 mm in some regions, with likelihood of flash floods, landslides, and road blockages.
As per the weather predictions, the hill districts of Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, and Bageshwar are expected to experience prolonged bouts of heavy rainfall, raising alarm about the safety of road travel and habitation in vulnerable zones. Bikram Singh has urged residents to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel, particularly in landslide-prone areas. The people have been warned to stay away from swollen rivers and fast-moving streams, as water levels continue to rise rapidly.
In Dehradun, heavy cloud cover and persistent rain brought daytime activities to a near standstill. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 30 degrees Celsius, with the minimum dipping to about 22 degrees Celsius. Several internal roads have witnessed waterlogging, while traffic congestion and minor road cave-ins were reported from parts of Rishikesh, Mussoorie and Kotdwar.
Meanwhile, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police and local authorities have been put on high alert across all districts. The Uttarakhand State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) has been activated to monitor the situation round-the-clock. Helicopter services for pilgrims and emergency evacuation have also been temporarily suspended until weather conditions improve.
It may be recalled that, in recent years, the Char Dham Yatra has witnessed several interruptions due to erratic monsoon activity and climate-induced extreme weather events. This year too, the pilgrimage season has been witnessing an exceptionally high footfall, forcing the authorities to remain on a high alert.
As per available data, the Char Dham shrines have already seen over 24 lakh pilgrims since the yatra began in May. With more than 50,000 pilgrims reported to be in transit or near the temple sites, the sudden suspension has posed a major logistical challenge for local administrations. Pilgrims remain stranded in various places along the Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath routes and the designated halt points.
The authorities have appealed to devotees, travel operators, and locals to cooperate with the administration and remain vigilant. Regular updates are being issued via official weather bulletins, social media platforms, and control room hotlines.
