Char Dham Yatra: Thousands Of Pilgrims Stopped On Way To Kedarnath, Yamunotri Due To Snowfall, Rains

Yamunotri bound pilgrims were halted at Jankichatti while those going to Kedarnath were stopped at Sonprayag and Gaurikund as precautionary measures after snow and rainfall disrupted Char Dham Yatra.

Thousands of pilgrims on Char Dham Yatra were stopped from going to Kedarnath and Yamunotri after rains and snowfall. ( Image Source :ABP News )

New Delhi: Thousands of pilgrims en route to Kedarnath and Yamunotri temples in the Garhwal Himalayas were halted as precautionary measures after a spell of snowfall and rainfall disrupted the Char Dham Yatra, reported news agency Press Trust of India. 

The higher altitude regions inhabiting Kedarnath started receiving snow early on Tuesday while lower areas were lashed with rains initiating the authorities to stop the pilgrimage in Gaurikund and Sonprayag for the safety of the pilgrims.

Pilgrims going to Yamunotri were also halted in Jankichatti, the last stopover on the way to the famous shrine, as the weather turned worse in the afternoon.

The peaks around Badrinath also received snow.

Yamunotri-bound pilgrims were stopped in Jankichatti as a precautionary measure, said Badkot sub divisional magistrate (SDM) Shalini Negi , adding that they will be allowed to proceed on their onward journey after the weather clears.

She added that pilgrims halted on the way to the shrine on Monday due to bad weather were permitted to go to the temple on Tuesday morning. They have already returned after offering prayers there, the SDM said. 

Rudraprayag District Magistrate Mayur Dikshit also said the pilgrims on way to Kedarnath were halted in Sonprayag and Gaurikund as the weather is bad and it is not safe for pilgrims to go beyond these points for the time being.

Dikshit said that the pilgrims will be allowed to visit the temple once the weather improves.

An unprecedented number of pilgrims are visiting the Himalayan temples this year with the Covid-induced restrictions no longer in place, the news agency stated. 

More than nine lakh pilgrims have already paid obeisance at the Himalayan temples in Garhwal region of Uttarakhand since the start of the pilgrimage on May 3.