Char Dham Yatra Slows Down Due to Disaster and Landslides

The pace of the Char Dham Yatra has come to a halt following the disaster in Dharali and Sainji villages of Uttarkashi district, along with frequent landslides in several areas. Pilgrim movement to Gangotri Dham has been completely suspended for the past three days. In Badrinath, Kedarnath, and Yamunotri, the daily number of devotees has dropped to around 1,000.
Continuous rainfall and disaster incidents across the state have severely impacted the pilgrimage. Landslide threats persist at multiple points on the Kedarnath and Badrinath routes. The August 5 disaster in Dharali severed connectivity to Gangotri Dham. While over 400 stranded pilgrims have been evacuated, there is currently no alternative route to reach Gangotri. Considering weather forecasts, authorities had suspended the Kedarnath Yatra until Friday, and future operations will depend on weather conditions.
According to the Tourism Department’s report, travel to Gangotri Dham remains suspended, while pilgrim numbers at other shrines have also declined. On August 1, the daily footfall across the Char Dham was between 7,000 and 8,000, but now it has dropped to just 1,000. Officials expect the pilgrimage to regain momentum once weather conditions improve.