Uttarakhand: Char Dham Yatra temporarily suspended amid heavy rain warnings

As per the latest reports, the ongoing Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand has been suspended due to heavy rain alerts issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Garhwal Divisional Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey ordered the temporary halt late on Saturday evening, urging pilgrims en route to the revered Hindu temples to avoid proceeding further and instead stay where they currently are.

The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across all districts of Uttarakhand on Sunday and Monday. Chamoli, Rudraprayag, and Pauri districts are expected to see particularly heavy showers on July 9th, while Tehri, Pauri, Bageshwar, Almora, Nainital, and Champawat are likely to experience significant rainfall the following day.

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In light of these weather warnings, Commissioner Pandey has appealed to pilgrims not to travel beyond the city of Rishikesh, located at the gateway to the Char Dham sites. Pilgrims have been advised to only continue their journeys when the weather conditions improve and it is safe to do so.

The Chamoli Police took to social media to reiterate the heavy rain alert and caution the public against unnecessary travel. They informed that the road near the Baldouda bridge ahead of Vishnu Prayag on the Badrinath National Highway has already been blocked. Similarly, the Rudraprayag Gaurikund National Highway-107 has been obstructed in the Doliya Devi (Phata) area due to continuous heavy downpours.

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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed all district magistrates in the affected areas to maintain high alertness in response to the IMD's forecasts. The state government is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to undertake rescue and relief operations if required.


Beyond Uttarakhand, the IMD has predicted moderate to widespread light rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, across Northwest and Central India over the next five days. Fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning is also expected in East and Northeast India during this period.

As authorities work to ensure the safety of pilgrims and residents, the temporary suspension of the Char Dham Yatra has been ordered as a necessary precaution against the potentially severe weather conditions. Travelers are advised to stay informed about the latest developments and heed official advisories before undertaking any journeys in the affected regions of Uttarakhand and neighboring areas.