Char Dham yatra suspended, high alert issued as rains lash Uttarakhand

Moderate to heavy rains in north India on Friday dipped temperatures providing relief to people from sultry weather and bringing cheers to farmers, but forced suspension of the annual Char Dham pilgrimage in Uttarakhand.

With moderate to heavy rains continuing to lash several parts of the State and major rivers flowing in spate, a high alert has been sounded for all districts including Nainital, Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi.

Following a MeT department warning, the authorities on Friday suspended yatra to Gangotri and Yamunotri. Pilgrimage to Kedarnath and Badrinath had earlier been suspended. With yatra to Gangotri and Yamunotri also halted, the entire Char Dham pilgrimage stands suspended for the time being, Uttarakhand Additional Chief Secretary Rakesh Sharma said.

Though most rivers in the state are in spate they are still flowing below the danger mark and the situation as of now is far from alarming, Sharma said.

Heavy rains have lashed the Kumaon region in the past 24 hours with Nainital recording a maximum of 152 MM of rainfall, followed by Haldwani 150 MM, Champavat 72 MM, Kashipur 64 MM, Ranikhet 45 MM and Almora 44 MM. Rudraprayag (17.3 MM), Uttarkashi (22MM), Chamoli (12 MM) and Dehradun (19.5MM) have received rains in a moderate degree.