Poor weather hits Char Dham yatra

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 8

As a precautionary measure the local authorities have temporarily halted 272 pilgrims midway, who were on their way to Kedarnath due to inclement weather, while 4,272 pilgrims have also been to moved to Gauri Kund, secretary disaster management Amit Negi said on Tuesday.

He said that while on the ground wherever disruptions have been created due to snowy conditions on the Char Dham and Kedarnath route, the SDRF and local authorities were engaged in clearing them. “The yatra is on course, but wherever there are indications of disruptions created due to falling trees or weather conditions, the pilgrims are being stopped,” said Negi.

The Rishikesh-Badrinath highway was opened on Tuesday evening, but at Kanchan Ganga the route was blocked the following day due to heavy snow. The authorities said that the electricity supply that was shut after an electricity pole was damaged was being restored in Pipal Koti. On the Badrinath route, too wherever there are disruptions the pilgrims are being stopped from proceeding further.

In Uttarkashi on the Yamnuotri route, the blockades have been cleared at Dabar Kot and Ojri Badkot. Further, the Rishikesh-Gangotri national highway and the Rishikesh-Yamunotri highway have now been opened for big vehicles.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister TS Rawat held a telephonic conversation with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh who assured him that the Union government was ready to provide all sorts of assistance in case of any emergency situation. He said that orders had been given to the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) teams to stay alert to deal with any kind of exigency.