Dehradun, August 01: Around 800 pilgrims who were stranded in a landslide caused by heavy rain on the Kedarnath route have been rescued by NDRF, SDRF and police teams.
Heavy rain on the Kedarnath pilgrimage route has caused a landslide on the 107th National Highway connecting Rudraprayag-Kedarnath. As a result, a 50-meter section of the main road connecting Gaurikund to Sonprayag has been completely washed away.
According to Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer N.K. Rajwar, the landslide occurred near the Munkatia sliding zone, about 1.5 km from Gaurikund. Thousands of pilgrims were stranded at this time. NDRF and SDRF teams immediately swung into action and safely shifted the pilgrims to Sonprayag. The Kedarnath Yatra has been temporarily halted due to the landslide and it may take at least 2-3 days to repair the road.
According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), a total of 94 roads, including three national highways, have been closed across Uttarakhand due to rains. Currently, SDRF is facilitating the movement of pilgrims through alternative routes. So far, more than 14.4 lakh people have visited the Kedarnath temple this season. It has been informed that 2,253 devotees visited the temple in a single day on July 29.
Landslides and other natural disasters usually occur frequently in this region during the monsoon season. This causes problems on the pilgrimage routes. However, the safety of the pilgrims has been ensured by a coordinated operation by NDRF, SDRF and local police teams.