Kedarnath Yatra Resumes After Rain-Induced Halt in Uttarakhand

The Kedarnath Yatra resumed on Sunday after being temporarily suspended for several hours due to heavy rainfall , poor visibility and an orange alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), prompting authorities to halt pilgrim movement as a precautionary measure.

The suspension was imposed around 9.45 am after continuous overnight rain raised fears of landslides and unsafe trekking conditions along the pilgrimage route. Pilgrims were stopped at designated holding centres and safe locations, while officials deployed in landslide-prone stretches , including Sonprayag and Gaurikund, were instructed not to allow further movement until weather conditions improved.

District Magistrate Vishal Mishra said the administration was monitoring the situation from both field locations and control rooms. Authorities also created additional holding areas in Dehradun, Rishikesh and Haridwar to accommodate devotees and provide basic facilities if weather-related disruptions continued.

Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swarup ordered the temporary suspension of the yatra, stressing that pilgrim safety remained the administration’s top priority. Disaster response teams, police personnel and sector magistrates were placed on high alert across sensitive zones.

Following an improvement in weather conditions and a review of route safety, authorities allowed the pilgrimage to resume later in the day. Officials, however, warned that movement could again be restricted if heavy rain returns.

The adverse weather also affected pilgrim movement towards Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib, with temporary restrictions imposed on some routes. Meanwhile, helicopter services to Kedarnath were suspended because of heavy rain and dense fog, adding to travel disruptions. The latest weather-related halt comes days after landslides and unstable hill conditions disrupted parts of the yatra route, highlighting continuing challenges during this year’s Char Dham pilgrimage season.