Weather could play spoilsport for yatra

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 20

The rainfall in low-lying areas and snowfall in higher areas has become spoilsport before the start of Char Dham Yatra season, which is slated to begin with the opening of sacred portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines on April 21. Sporadic rainfall was witnessed in Dehradun while incessant rain lashed higher reaches of the state.

The higher altitudes of Garhwal division which are Uttarkashi, Chopta, Gopeshwar, Harshil, Gangotri, Badrinath, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, Hemkund Sahib, Ukhimath, Auli etc. received incessant rainfall today.

Sources confirmed that landslides and mudslides were witnessed at Bhimtal, Govindghat, Pulna, Joshimath, Chinyalisaud, Nalupaani, Singoti, Gangori, Garampaani, Nalun, Lata, Lambhagad, Binakoli etc. which hampered department efforts to ensure disruption-free movement of traffic along Char Dham Yatra route.

Meanwhile, district administration has claimed that every possible step has been already taken to ensure smooth movement of traffic along Char Dham Yatra route.

State Meteorological Centre Director Anand Sharma has forecast rain in low-lying areas while snowfall in higher reaches of the state was experienced due to western disturbances.

He said that state will receive less rainfall from tomorrow onwards.

Sharma said that very light rainfall in isolated places in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag and Chamoli district and snowfall above 4000 metres might occur on Tuesday.