Char Dham Yatra Resumes After 24-Hour Suspension as Weather Slightly Improves in Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand: The Char Dham Yatra, one of India’s most significant spiritual pilgrimages, resumed on Monday after a 24-hour suspension was lifted, officials confirmed.

The Yatra had been temporarily halted due to continuous heavy rainfall and an increased risk of landslides, which posed a serious threat to the safety of pilgrims traveling through the mountainous terrain of Uttarakhand.

The decision to resume the Yatra came after a slight improvement in weather conditions across various regions of the state. Garhwal Divisional Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey announced the update, stating, “The 24-hour ban on the Char Dham Yatra has been lifted.”

He further noted that District Magistrates along the Yatra route have been directed to closely monitor the weather and regulate the movement of vehicles accordingly, ensuring the safety of devotees based on real-time ground conditions.

Cloudburst Triggers Yatra Suspension

The suspension was enforced on Sunday following a cloudburst incident near Silai along the Barkot–Yamunotri road in the Uttarkashi district.

The sudden cloudburst occurred near an under-construction hotel, where 29 labourers had taken temporary shelter. Out of them, 20 workers were successfully rescued, while rescue teams worked to locate and assist others.

 

The force of the cloudburst caused significant damage, with debris blocking several portions of the Yamunotri National Highway, severely restricting access to the Yamunotri shrine, one of the four sacred sites of the Char Dham.

Emergency teams were deployed swiftly, and road clearance operations were carried out to restore the route for pilgrim traffic.

Road Closures and Ongoing Weather Concerns

Despite the lifting of the suspension, multiple roads remain blocked due to ongoing landslides and heavy rain.

The National Highway near Nandprayag and Bhaneropani faced major disruptions, while the Sonprayag–Munkatiya road in Rudraprayag district, a critical stretch for Kedarnath pilgrims, also remains closed, causing delays and congestion.

Heavy and persistent rainfall continues to affect several districts, including Chamoli, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Dehradun, and adjacent areas.

Rivers in the region are flowing dangerously close to their danger levels, prompting the administration to issue fresh advisories. People living in low-lying and riverbank areas have been urged to stay vigilant and take precautionary steps to ensure their safety.

A Challenging Season for Devotees

The Char Dham Yatra, which includes sacred journeys to Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri, attracts lakhs of devotees from across India and abroad each year. However, the 2025 Yatra season has been repeatedly marred by extreme and unpredictable weather events, including cloudbursts, landslides, flash floods, and road washouts.

State officials have acknowledged the difficulties faced by pilgrims this year and are continuing efforts to strengthen disaster response infrastructure, improve real-time communication, and ensure swift evacuation and medical aid in case of emergencies.

As the Yatra resumes cautiously, authorities have reiterated their appeal for pilgrims to remain updated on weather conditions, follow all official guidelines, and defer travel if conditions worsen.

The safety and well-being of pilgrims remain the top priority for the administration as they navigate this season of spiritual devotion amid nature’s unpredictability.