Char Dham Yatra Halted Amid Torrential Rain, Search Underway for Missing Workers After Cloudburst in Uttarkashi

Dehradun: The revered Char Dham Yatra has been brought to a standstill for 24 hours as authorities sound the alarm over intense rainfall and the risk of further disasters. Officials took the preventive step after a cloudburst triggered widespread damage along the Barkot–Yamunotri highway in Uttarkashi district, leaving nine construction workers unaccounted for at a partially built hotel.

Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey confirmed the yatra’s suspension, instructing law enforcement and local officials to halt pilgrims at key transit hubs including Haridwar, Rishikesh, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Sonprayag, and Vikasnagar. “The decision is purely precautionary to protect devotees from adverse weather,” he explained.

Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya said the cloudburst near Baligarh had destroyed parts of the hotel construction site, where eight to nine labourers were staying. “Efforts are underway to trace the missing workers,” he reported.

Rescue and relief operations have been mobilised, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local police working around the clock to locate those missing and clear debris.

Vinod Kumar Suman, Secretary of Uttarakhand’s Disaster Management Department, stated that the administration is closely tracking weather conditions. “All concerned agencies have been directed to ensure maximum safety for pilgrims and local residents,” he said.

Heavy downpours on Saturday triggered additional trouble, blocking the Badrinath National Highway near Nandprayag and Bhanerpani. Chamoli Police posted on X that road-clearing efforts were ongoing as the route remains critical for Kedarnath-bound pilgrims.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami appealed to citizens to postpone non-essential journeys over the next day, cautioning of likely downpours in the hill regions and some low-lying areas. “People should stay alert and cooperate with authorities,” he urged.