The Char Dham Yatra resumed on Monday after it was suspended for 24 hours by heavy rain advisories, officials said. The suspension came on Sunday because of a cloudburst and landslides in Barkot, Uttarakhand, that killed two people and left seven workers missing.
Garhwal Divisional Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey informed ANI, “The ban on Char Dham Yatra for 24 hours has been removed.” He further informed that District Magistrates on the Yatra route have been asked to check the weather and control the movement of vehicles accordingly.
Cloudburst Triggers Landslide, Claims Lives
The travel ban follows a cloudburst that caused a huge landslide in the area around Barkot, and two people were killed and seven others went missing. Rescue operations are underway to locate the missing workers.
The accident took place around four km past Paligad on the Yamunotri National Highway, close to Silai Band, reports Uttarkashi Police. Several agencies such as police, SDRF, NDRF, health services, and public works teams are engaged in the rescue operation that is underway.
Road Repairs Done, Power Restored Underway
Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya has confirmed improvement in re-establishing connectivity and power supply in the area. He informed ANI, “The washout that occurred due to a cloud burst prior to Silai Band on the Barkot-Yamunotri road of the district has been restored and the road has been smoothened, while the process of smoothening the other washout is underway.”
He added that the 33 KV power line has been restored and attempts are being made to repair the 11 KV line. Seven personnel are still missing, and the search is being continued with the assistance of NDRF, SDRF, Police, and Revenue teams.
Rain Lashes Chamba, Authorities Remain on Alert
Meanwhile, heavy rains were reported in several parts of Chamba town on Monday, prompting local authorities to remain on high alert. The weather continues to pose challenges for both pilgrims and rescue personnel.
Victims Identified as Workers from Nepal and Uttar Pradesh
The two deceased workers have been identified as Kewal Bisht, a 43-year-old from Karmamohani in Nepal’s Rajapur district, and Duje Lal, aged 55, from Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh.
The government is making every effort to provide security to the pilgrims and speed up the rescue and rehabilitation processes in the affected regions.