Garhwal Post Bureau
Rudraprayag, 7 Aug: The district administration has temporarily suspended the Madhyamaheshwar Yatra, the pilgrimage to the second Kedar shrine, until further orders in view of safety concerns. Rising risks along the route, the collapse of the wooden bridge over the Madhuganga River and dependence on a trolley for crossing prompted the decision. District Magistrate Vishal Mishra issued the order in this respect today, stressing that public safety is paramount.
The administration observed that the landslides, fragile stretches of the route and the ongoing repair work on the Gaondar trolley made continuation of the pilgrimage hazardous. The suspension means devotees preparing to visit the shrine will have to wait until orders are issued for resumption of the Yatra. As per the reports, the path between Talasari Tok and Bantoli is undergoing hill‑cutting work, and the continuous rainfall has heightened the danger of landslides. Falling stones and the debris in sensitive sections have raised concerns for pilgrims’ safety. It may be recalled that the wooden bridge over the Madhuganga River was washed away some time ago. At present a trolley is being used as an alternative which also has come under heavy pressure due to the large number of devotees, often resulting in long queues and disorder.
The administration stated that negligence under such circumstances could lead to a major accident, hence the decision to halt the yatra temporarily. The PWD has sought two to three days to carry out necessary repairs and technical testing of the trolley to ensure compliance with safety standards. The District Magistrate appealed to devotees not to proceed without official updates and to follow instructions issued by the administration and concerned departments.
Meanwhile, the Kedarnath highway remained clear today, but the Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri highways were blocked by landslides. Urban areas faced waterlogging, and rivers including the Ganga, Yamuna, Alaknanda, Mandakini, Tons, Gomti and Saryu were in spate. Power and drinking water lines in hill regions have also been damaged. The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in Dehradun, Chamoli and Bageshwar, advising travellers to check weather updates before setting out.
In Chamoli, the Badrinath highway was blocked at Kaleshwar due to debris, while the Karnaprayag–Gwaldam highway remained closed for the second consecutive day. The Gangotri highway was obstructed near Helgugad, Nalupani and Gangnani, and the Yamunotri highway was blocked near Durbil and Syanachatti, with clearance work in progress. In Rudraprayag, the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers are reported to be flowing above warning levels, prompting the emergency operations centre to urge people to stay away from riverbanks. Loudspeakers are being used to alert residents.
In Pauri, heavy rainfall disrupted traffic on nine motor roads and damaged water supply lines in Pabau’s Sanji village. Faults in electricity lines in Yamkeshwar block’s Baghala and Dwarkhal block’s Tunakhal Gwin Bada left several villages without power. Many rivers in the district, including the Alaknanda, are flowing close to danger levels, underlining the seriousness of the situation.
