Shree Kedarnath Yatra stopped till next order, 10 thousand passengers stranded, administration issued alert
Rudraprayag : Due to heavy rain and dense fog in Kedar Ghati and Kedarnath, the administration stopped the yatra with immediate effect. During this, five thousand passengers were stopped from place to place from Rudraprayag to Guptkashi. At the same time, 2000 passengers were stopped in Sonprayag and 3200 in Gaurikund.
Due to the drizzling rain since morning, the administration has stopped the Kedarnath Yatra as a precaution. The Kedarnath Yatra lasted only one hour on Monday. Devotees who reached the Dham continued to have darshan of the adorable throughout the day, but thousands of pilgrims were stopped from place to place from the district headquarters to Gaurikund. In view of the forecast of rain till Tuesday, the administration has appealed to the travelers to stay where they are and to be vigilant. On Monday, 8530 passengers were left for Kedarnath from Sonprayag till 8 am, but after that the administration stopped the journey with immediate effect due to heavy rain and dense fog in Kedar Ghati and Kedarnath. During this, five thousand passengers were stopped from place to place from Rudraprayag to Guptkashi. At the same time, 2000 passengers were stopped in Sonprayag and 3200 in Gaurikund.
After 9 am, the passengers were not sent from Sonprayag to Kedarnath, the passengers who had left for the Dham till 8 am, were gradually carried forward during light rain in the presence of police and other security personnel. During this, wherever the rain intensified, the passengers were stopped. According to the administration, by noon, more than 45 percent of the passengers had reached the Yatri Dham safely by foot. The remaining passengers will also reach the Dham by late evening.
On the other hand, 3200 passengers were also stopped in Kedarnath due to rain. Due to bad weather, no traveler was allowed to go even below Kedarnath. District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said that security forces have been deployed from Sonprayag to Kedarnath for the safety of the passengers. Here, Deputy Superintendent of Police Prabodh Kumar Ghildiyal said that due to rain, the journey was stopped keeping in mind the safety. The decision is being taken keeping in mind the alerts of the Meteorological Department.
Keeping in mind the forecast of the Meteorological Department, the police has appealed to the travelers to stay where they are present. Deputy Superintendent of Police PK Ghildiyal told the passengers that the passengers who have not booked rooms are being sent to hotels, lodges, restaurants, Dharamsala between Rudraprayag and Agastyamuni. Also, the passengers whose rooms have been booked have been asked to stay in their rooms till further orders.
Helicopter services to Kedarnath were largely affected on Monday due to bad weather. Helicopters took off for Kedarnath from 7 am to 7.35 am from Guptkashi, Maikhanda and other helipads, but after that the heli service was closed since afternoon due to rain and fog. After about 1 to 1.20 pm, only three-four shuttle helicopters were able to do it.
According to Rudra Prayag District Magistrate Mayur Dixit, keeping in mind the forecast of rain and Meteorological Department on Monday, passengers were not allowed to leave Sonprayag for Kedarnath after 9 o’clock. Along with this, the passengers who were left for Dham till 8 in the morning are being monitored along with the police and other security forces along the way. It was smooth throughout the day in Kedarnath, but no passenger has been sent down from the Dham.