Landslide In Rudraprayag Blocks Kedarnath Route, Over 10,000 Pilgrims Evacuated
Over 10,000 pilgrims safely evacuated after landslide on Kedarnath route.
More than 10,000 pilgrims travelling to Kedarnath were safely rescued after a major landslide struck the pilgrimage route in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district, officials said on Thursday, highlighting a large-scale emergency response carried out in challenging weather and terrain conditions.
The landslide occurred between Sonprayag and Gaurikund late Tuesday night following heavy rainfall in the region. According to officials, debris from the slide blocked a key stretch of the highway at Munkatiya, leaving a large number of pilgrims stranded along the route during the ongoing Char Dham Yatra.
The situation was further complicated by continuous rainfall, falling rocks, poor visibility, and the difficult mountainous terrain, making evacuation efforts highly challenging. The District Control Room in Rudraprayag alerted the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) around 9:16 pm, following which rescue teams were immediately mobilised from Sonprayag with necessary equipment.
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Joint teams from the SDRF and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) carried out coordinated rescue and relief operations, successfully evacuating a total of 10,450 stranded pilgrims. Officials said personnel worked continuously through the night, assisting travellers across the damaged stretch while ensuring their safe movement to secure locations despite adverse conditions.
After completing the evacuation, authorities deployed JCB machines to clear the debris and restore the blocked highway. The road was reopened for vehicular movement shortly after clearance operations, allowing stranded vehicles to resume travel. Officials confirmed that normal traffic flow was restored following the removal of remaining debris from the affected stretch.
SDRF Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi said rescue teams had been placed on high alert along the pilgrimage route in anticipation of adverse weather, which enabled a swift response. He added that early deployment and coordination between agencies played a crucial role in ensuring the safe evacuation of all pilgrims without any reported casualties.
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