Char Dham and Hemkund Sahib Yatra Suspended Till September 5 Due to Heavy Rain Alert
Dehradun (The Uttam Hindu): In light of the changing weather conditions and heavy rainfall warnings across Uttarakhand, authorities have temporarily suspended the ongoing Char Dham and Hemkund Sahib pilgrimages until September 5. The decision has been made to ensure the safety of thousands of devotees visiting the sacred sites.
Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey confirmed the development, stating that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red and orange alerts for several districts in the state, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall in the coming days.
“Given the seriousness of the weather alerts and the risk to human life, we have decided to temporarily halt both pilgrimages,” said Pandey. “Pilgrim safety is our top priority.”
Officials have advised pilgrims to remain at safe locations and avoid any travel until the weather stabilizes. The situation will be reviewed before any decision is made to resume the Yatra after September 5. This move follows several rain-related disruptions in the region over the past few weeks, with landslides and flash floods posing serious threats to routes leading to the shrines.