The thoroughfare connecting Badrinath and Rishikesh, proximate to Sirobagadh in Uttarakhand, has been shuttered a mere day following the commencement of the sacred pilgrimage known as Char Dham Yatra, owing to copious precipitation, resulting in the unfortunate demise of two individuals and injuries sustained by six others. Furthermore, a structure’s deterioration led to the injury of seventeen individuals.
Moreover, travelers bound for Badrinath and Kedarnath find themselves halted at Srikot-Srinagar and Kaliyasod.
Venturing onto the virtual terrain of social media, specifically platform X, formerly identified as Twitter, the Uttarakhand police disseminated a message, elucidating, “The national thoroughfare is currently impassable due to the nocturnal deluge, triggering the accumulation of debris and dislodged stones cascading from the adjacent hill near Sirobgadh, sited at the juncture of Rudraprayag and Pauri districts. Simultaneously, the alternative route (via Chanti Khal) remains obstructed.”
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) prognosticates the likelihood of thunderous downpours accompanied by hail in Rudraprayag until the advent of Monday, alongside rainfall expected in sundry precincts within the State.
Srinagar Kotwal, Hoshiyar Singh Pankholi, reassured the populace of the conscientious efforts underway to mitigate any inconveniences endured by travelers. Due to the incessant cascade of debris in Sirobagadh, vehicular passage remains impeded.
On the calendric date of Friday, May 10, the sanctuaries of Kedarnath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri nestled in the Garhwal Himalayas, ushered in the general public to commemorate the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, heralding the inception of the revered Chardham Yatra. Attendants at the inaugural ceremony of Kedarnath included Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Chief Minister of Assam, along with his consort, Geeta, and Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, spouse of Himanta Biswa Sarma.
