Uttarakhand: Thousands of Pilgrims Stranded Amid Torrential Rains i
On Wednesday, officials confirmed that the trek route to the Himalayan temple has been severely damaged near Munkatiya in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district. Approximately 50 to 70 metres of road between Munkatiya and Gaurikund has been completely washed away, according to Rudraprayag Superintendent of Police Akshay Prahlad Konde.
With the path rendered impassable and even the temporary pedestrian route destroyed, authorities estimate it will take two to three days to clear the landslide debris and restore safe access.
Around 2,500 pilgrims were left stranded in Gaurikund due to the sudden closure. Rescue operations are underway, with SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) and NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) teams safely relocating people to Sonprayag via alternate forest routes.
Appeal to Pilgrims to Explore Nearby Holy Sites
In the meantime, officials have appealed to devotees to visit other religious sites in the region while restoration work continues. “The extent of damage is significant, but efforts are ongoing around the clock,” said SP Konde.
Updates on the route’s status will be shared via the Rudraprayag Police’s social media channels. Pilgrims are advised to stay informed and follow safety advisories.
This disruption highlights the vulnerability of high-altitude pilgrimage routes during monsoon season, raising questions about long-term infrastructure resilience in the face of increasingly erratic weather patterns.