Char Dham Yatra In Uttarakhand Suspended Amid Heavy Rainfall; Nine Labourers Missing After Cloudburst In Uttarkashi District

A cloudburst in Baligarh, along Uttarakhand's Barkot-Yamunotri road, damaged an under-construction hotel site on Sunday (29 June).

Eight to nine workers staying at the construction site have reportedly gone missing after the cloudburst.

Rescue teams, including police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), are conducting operations in challenging weather and terrain, reported India Today.

"A cloudburst in Baligarh on the Barkot-Yamunotri road of the district has caused heavy damage to an under-construction hotel site. 8-9 workers at the under-construction hotel site are missing. Police, SDRF and NDRF have left for the spot," Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya was quoted as saying by India Today.

He added, "Yamunotri Marg has also been affected."

Intense rainfall triggered the cloudburst.

The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for Uttarakhand for Sunday (29 June) and Monday (30 June), warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning.

Consequently, Uttarakhand authorities suspended the Char Dham Yatra for 24 hours due to the heavy rain prediction.

“Char Dham Yatra has been suspended for the next 24 hours in view of the heavy rain alert. Instructions have been given to the police and administration officials to stop the pilgrims in Haridwar," Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Continuous rainfall caused major disruptions, including blocking the National Highway near Nandprayag and Bhaneropani.

Authorities in Rudraprayag also restricted movement on the Sonprayag–Munkatiya road earlier this week due to landslides, halting Kedarnath pilgrims at Sonprayag and Gaurikund.