Amid relentless rainfall and worsening weather conditions in Uttarakhand, around 40 devotees returning from Kedarnath Dham were rescued by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) on Thursday after being stranded near the Sonprayag landslide zone.
The pilgrims were stranded following a sudden landslide around 10 p.m. on Wednesday, which blocked the route with debris, making further movement impossible.
The landslide struck near Sonprayag, a key transit point along the Kedarnath Yatra route. Responding swiftly, SDRF teams launched a high-risk nighttime rescue operation.
Video footage released by the SDRF showed personnel carefully navigating through dangerous terrain and heavy debris to evacuate the stranded pilgrims to safety.
The hill state continues to face widespread disruption due to ongoing heavy rainfall. The Badrinath National Highway was blocked near Badrish Hotel in Umtta following another landslide, according to Chamoli Police.
Similarly, the Yamunotri National Highway has sustained severe damage, with sections of the road between Silai Band and Ojri washed away due to incessant downpours.
Multiple agencies, including the SDRF, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), local police, and forest department personnel, are working in coordination to assist pilgrims and residents alike. Teams are creating temporary trails, providing transportation, and guiding people through alternate safe routes to ensure timely and secure transit.
Essential services have also been significantly impacted.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heavy rain and thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are likely to persist across several districts.
“Intense to very intense spells of rain are expected at isolated locations in Dehradun, Pauri Garhwal, Tehri, Nainital, and Bageshwar districts,” the IMD said in a statement.
Other hilly districts are also likely to experience thunderstorms with lightning and heavy rainfall in isolated pockets in the coming days.
(With inputs from IANS)
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