Rain disrupts Char Dham Yatra again

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 1

Rain yet again hit the Char Dham Yatra today. The Hemkund Sahib Yatra was also disrupted due to landslides at various places on the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway.

The yatra to Kedarnath, which was slated to resume today, could not begin as fresh rain triggered landslides at Jankichatti, thus obstructing the trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath. Landslides in Lambagad, Benakuli and Patalganga areas on the Karanprayag-Badrinath stretch of the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway brought to halt the yatras to Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib. However, the yatras to Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines were still on.

According to the Chamoli District Disaster Management office, the yatras to Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib have been stopped. Around 70 mm rainfall in Chamoli district over the past 24 hours triggered landslides at various places. The resumption of these yatras would depend on weather conditions, official sources said.

Rivers in Chamoli district were in spate. The water level in the Alaknanda had touched 955.15 m, while the level in the Mandakini (at Nandprayag) stood at 869.1 m.