A landslide on a key stretch of the Kedarnath Yatra route in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district late on Tuesday night blocked the road and disrupted movement of pilgrims, prompting a large-scale rescue operation that safely evacuated more than 10,000 devotees, according to ANI reports.

The incident occurred in the Munkatiya area on the Sonprayag–Gaurikund section of the Shri Kedarnath Yatra route. The sudden landslide completely obstructed the main road, leaving a large number of pilgrims stranded on the mountainous route during nighttime hours.

The situation was further complicated by adverse weather conditions, continuous falling debris, poor visibility at night, and heavy pilgrim movement along the hilly terrain. Authorities reported that over 10,000 pilgrims were safely rescued from the affected stretch during the overnight operation.

Also Read: CM Dhami Seeks Centre’s Support For Uninterrupted LPG Supply During Char Dham Yatra

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) received information about the landslide at around 9:16 p.m. from the District Control Room in Rudraprayag, ANI reported. Following the alert, SDRF teams from Sonprayag, led by Sub-Inspector Ashish Dimri, rushed to the site with rescue equipment and began evacuation efforts.

Subsequently, SDRF and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel carried out coordinated rescue and relief operations in challenging conditions, prioritising the safe evacuation of pilgrims and maintaining movement along alternative safe routes where possible.

The Kedarnath Yatra, which attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees each season to the Himalayan shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, frequently faces disruptions due to landslides and unstable slopes, particularly during the monsoon period. Authorities have not yet provided a timeline for full restoration of the blocked route and have advised pilgrims to follow official updates before continuing their journey.

Also Read: Delivery Workers Report Lower Take-Home Pay Amid Incentive Changes