Heavy rain disrupts Badrinath yatra

Tribune news service

Dehradun, June 28

Heavy rain lashed various parts of the state which also disrupted the yatra to the Badrinath shrine today.

Rain triggered landslides on the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway which affected the traffic. However, the yatra to Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines continued smoothly.

Rain hit Pithorgarh and Bageshwar in Kumaon division too, triggering landslides and blocking several link roads. The authorities are working on a war footing to clear the debris from the roads.

In Dehradun, the water level in the Rispana and the Bindal has risen after heavy showers. Several low-lying areas along the banks of the two rivers have been inundated.

Dr Vikram Singh, director, Met Office, said it would continue to rain for the next 24 hours. He said advisory had been issued to the districts where the ‘Char Dham’ yatra took place.

Eight heli companies operating in the Kedarnath valley have stopped operations due to rain. These companies ferry pilgrims from Guptkashi to Kedarnath and vice versa. The services will resume from September.