By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Rudraprayag, 30 Jul: The Kedarnath Yatra remained suspended for the third consecutive day today on as relentless heavy rainfall and fresh landslides continue to wreak havoc across Rudraprayag district, leaving the Yatra route unsafe and severely disrupt the normal life in the Kedar Valley. The Gaurikund-Kedarnath trek route continues to remain blocked at multiple locations due to heavy landslides and continuous falling of boulders, while the Sonprayag-Gaurikund motor road has also been affected by continuous rockfall near Munkatiya, preventing the resumption of the Yatra. However, the Char Dham Yatra itself remains suspended by the authorities in view of widespread rain-related disruptions and the continuing threat of fresh landslides across the Garhwal region.
According to the officials, a large quantity of debris, mud and massive boulders came crashing down onto the pedestrian route near Gaurikund following continuous rainfall, completely blocking the trek route leading to Kedarnath shrine. The highly vulnerable Chhodi stretch also witnessed repeated rockfall, making restoration work extremely hazardous. In Gaurikund, debris from the hillside entered a temporary shop, although no casualties have been reported.
The district administration has stopped the pilgrims at Sonprayag and Gaurikund for reasons of safety. The Police personnel, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and other emergency agencies have been deployed at vulnerable locations and are continuously monitoring the situation. The officials have made it clear that the Kedarnath Yatra will resume only after the trekking route and motor road are thoroughly inspected and declared completely safe.
The Sonprayag-Gaurikund motor road has emerged as another major concern. At Munkatiya, large boulders have been repeatedly crashing onto the road from the hillside, disrupting vehicular movement and posing a serious threat to commuters. The affected stretch has been secured by the authorities and traffic movement has been regulated to prevent any untoward incident. The administration has stated that restoration work will continue only when falling rocks subside and weather conditions permit safe operations.
District Magistrate Vishal Mishra has appealed to the pilgrims not to pay heed to rumours and to strictly follow official advisories issued by the administration. He urged the devotees to remain patient and cooperate with the authorities until the route is declared safe. The Garhwal Commissioner has also directed the district administrations to ensure that stranded pilgrims are accommodated at safe locations and that the Yatra resumes only after all routes are certified fit for travel.
The prolonged suspension has left Kedarnath town wearing a deserted look during the holy month of Shravan, a period that normally witnesses a steady influx of devotees. Instead of bustling crowds, only a limited number of priests, temple functionaries, teerth purohits and government personnel on official duty are presently at the shrine.
Meanwhile, the Timli-Badma link road, one of the most landslide-prone stretches in the Kedar Valley, also remained closed for the second consecutive day due to continuous landslides. The road has been completely blocked by debris and huge boulders rolling down from the hillside, severely affecting nearly 80 villages that depend on it for connectivity. The closure has disrupted the movement of residents, supply of essential commodities, transportation of patients and the daily commute of school and college students.
The local residents said that the problem has persisted ever since the devastating 2013 disaster. They alleged that recurring landslides from the hillside and continuous erosion by the Mandakini River below have made the road highly vulnerable, with the same situation recurring every monsoon and often leaving the road closed for several days.
PWD Executive Engineer SS Saini said a proposal worth about Rs 26 crores had earlier been sent to the state government for permanent treatment and stabilisation of the landslide-prone stretch, but the required funds are yet to be sanctioned. As a result, no permanent mitigation measures could be undertaken and temporary restoration continues to be the only option every monsoon.
The villagers have urged the government to immediately approve the pending proposal so that permanent slope stabilisation and protection works could be taken up, providing lasting relief to residents who face the same ordeal every rainy season.
In the Kedar Valley, the Mandakini River continues to flow in spate at several locations following incessant rainfall. Rising water levels, combined with recurring landslides, have affected road connectivity across the district. At Silli near Agastyamuni, the swollen Mandakini washed away a substantial portion of the Kedarnath National Highway, raising fresh concerns over the stability of the highway and prompting local residents to question the quality of construction and protection works undertaken along the vulnerable stretch.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast continued rainfall over several parts of Uttarakhand, keeping the threat of fresh landslides, rockfall and flash floods alive over the coming days. The district administration has, therefore, advised both the pilgrims and the local residents to avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from rivers and landslide-prone slopes, and rely only on official weather bulletins and travel advisories until conditions improve.
