Char Dham Yatra Suspended Following Heavy Rain Alert in Uttarakhand

The Char Dham Yatra, a significant pilgrimage in Uttarakhand, was suspended for 24 hours after officials declared a heavy rain alert on Sunday. Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey confirmed the decision as a precautionary step.

A cloudburst in Silai Band on the Barkot-Yamunotri road in Uttarkashi district caused significant alarm, with nine workers missing from an under-construction hotel site. The incident has severely affected the Yamunotri route, raising safety concerns.

Rescue operations are actively underway with teams from the National and State Disaster Response Forces, supported by the Police. Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman assured that the government is closely monitoring the situation to ensure public safety.

(With inputs from agencies.)