Devastating Downpour Disrupts Pilgrimage: Kinnaur Kailash Yatra Suspended

Amid torrential rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, the Kinnaur Kailash Yatra has been suspended as a safety measure. A total of 413 devotees, stranded due to impassable makeshift bridges, were successfully rescued, marking a major crisis response operation in the region.

The flooding washed away the bridges at Tanglippi and Kangarang, creating hazardous conditions for the pilgrimage. In immediate response, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) undertook rescue operations to bring stranded pilgrims to safety, employing methods like ziplining across streams.

Meanwhile, the ongoing heavy rain continues to wreak havoc across the state. With 617 roads closed, including major highways, educational institutions have shut down, and water supply disruptions are feared. The region grapples with infrastructural damage and loss from a series of landslides and flash floods.

(With inputs from agencies.)