The Kedarnath Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand was temporarily suspended on Friday following a landslide that compromised the pedestrian track near Chhodi Gadhere, located approximately one kilometre ahead of Gaurikund, as reported by Rudraprayag Police.Officials indicated that the landslide rendered the route to the revered Kedarnath shrine unsafe for pilgrims, prompting the authorities to halt all movement along the path until further notice. In a statement on X, Rudraprayag Police announced, “The pedestrian track at Chhodi Gadhere, one kilometre ahead of Gaurikund, has been damaged due to a landslide, resulting in the temporary suspension of the Kedarnath Dham Yatra.” Just a day prior, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami revealed that the Uttarakhand government had opted to temporarily pause the Char Dham Yatra due to unfavorable weather conditions. CM Dhami emphasized that ensuring the safety of pilgrims is the government’s foremost concern. “In light of the weather conditions, the Char Dham Yatra has been temporarily halted. Moving forward, we will conduct the yatra in alignment with the weather. The yatra will resume when it is deemed safe… Our primary focus during the yatra is the safety of all pilgrims… All district officials, disaster management teams, the National Disaster Response Force, and the State Disaster Response Force are fully equipped and prepared.” This year, the Kedarnath Dham has experienced a surge in pilgrim numbers, which officials attribute to both enhanced facilities and an increasing spiritual interest.Additionally, authorities have implemented improved security measures and medical response teams to effectively manage the high-altitude yatra.
