Landslides hit Kedarnath, Badrinath yatra

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 26

The yatra to the Kedarnath and Badrinath shrines was disrupted today following landslides triggered by heavy rains in the Garhwal region. However, the yatra to Gangotri, Yamunotri and Hemkund Sahib continued smoothly.

The Met department has issued an advisory for taking necessary precautions and avoiding vulnerable areas in view of the possibility of heavy rains in some parts of the state.

Landslides blocked the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway in the Sirobagad and Lambagad areas. The road to Kedarnath near Sonprayag was also blocked.

A minor cloudburst took place in the Jaymandi area of Rudraprayag district, washing away some houses. However, no loss of life was reported.

Meanwhile, rivers in the state are in spate. The water level in the Alaknanda, Rudraprayag, was recorded at 622.35 m whereas the Mandakini was flowing at 621.70 m. The water level in the Ganga, Haridwar, was recorded at 292.35 m. Six rural roads are blocked in Pauri, 11 in Tehri and five in Nainital.

In Dehradun, the sky remained clear throughout the day. Rain lashed the city in evening hours.