Kedarnath Yatra stopped at Sonprayag amid heavy rainfall

The Kedarnath Yatra has been halted in Uttarakhand's Sonprayag due to continued heavy rain in Rudraprayag district, officials said on Wednesday. Keeping in mind the welfare of the passengers, the administration has stopped the passengers at Sonprayag and Gaurikund due to the continuing terrible climate.

4 national highways and 10 link roads are closed due to rain debris. Officials said the Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers are flooding due to heavy rains.

Amid heavy downpours in Uttarakhand, the India Meteorological Division (IMD) on Monday issued an orange alert for July 12. "Orange Alert: #Uttarakhand and adjoining areas of western #UttarPradesh are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall (115.6 to 204.4 mm) on July 12," IMD shared in a tweet.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Tuesday that the state administration is on full alert given the heavy rainfall warning issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in the region.

Discussing the visionary plan made in the state, CM Dhami said, "During the monsoon here, we constantly face common disasters. Landslides and rise in river levels occur due to excessive rainfall. We are on high alert. Our Disaster Management Officers and all district administration officials are working. Every one of them has been approached to remain ready to face what is happening. Our other organizations are also working on this. NDRF, armed forces, and our PWD office are ready to face what is happening and we are constantly in touch with individuals, to help them under any circumstances."

On Tuesday, nine people died and 13 persons were injured due to falling debris on the Gangotri National Highway near Gangnani in Uttarakhand. The relentless downpours almost damaged the state framework and several courses including the national highways were closed due to regular avalanches affecting the ongoing 'Char Dham yatra'.