Amid continuous heavy rainfall and warnings of more to come, Uttarakhand authorities have suspended the Char Dham Yatra for 24 hours as a precautionary measure. The move comes after a landslide triggered by heavy rain near Silai Band in the Uttarkashi district left nine labourers missing and caused significant damage to infrastructure on the Yamunotri National Highway.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, June 29, 2025, following a cloudburst in the region. According to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), they received reports of the rainfall around 2:12 AM, after which rescue teams were immediately deployed to the affected site. The landslide hit a labour camp near Silai Band, about 4–5 km ahead of Paligad, where 19 workers were stationed for the construction of a hotel. Ten of them managed to escape, but the remaining nine are still unaccounted for.
Due to the severity of the rainfall, a 10–12 metre stretch of the Yamunotri National Highway has been washed away, further complicating rescue efforts. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) reported that their teams had to reach the site on foot because of the roadblock. Alongside the SDRF, personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), local police, the Health Department, and the Revenue Department have also been deployed for ongoing search and rescue operations.
Vinay Shankar Pandey, Commissioner of Garhwal Division, officially announced the temporary suspension of the Char Dham Yatra, asking pilgrims to stay back at designated safe locations, including Haridwar, Rishikesh, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Sonprayag, and Vikasnagar. "This is a precautionary measure to protect lives and ensure smooth coordination of rescue efforts," he said.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also appealed to the public to avoid unnecessary travel, especially in the state's hill regions, and to follow government advisories closely.
The weather-related disruptions have impacted other major pilgrimages and travel routes, too. The Badrinath National Highway remains blocked near Nandprayag and Bhanerpani. Restoration work is in progress, but authorities have stressed that road clearance may take time due to ongoing weather instability.
Meanwhile, district administrations have been placed on high alert. Relief teams are coordinating closely to prevent further damage and ensure the safety of both pilgrims and local residents. Authorities have reiterated the importance of not spreading misinformation and relying only on official updates.
A decision on resuming the Yatra will be taken after a review of the weather and road conditions on Monday (June 30). For now, pilgrims are urged to remain at safe halts, and the public is advised to steer clear of flood-prone and landslide-susceptible areas.
Note: This is a developing story. Updates will follow as more information becomes available.
(With inputs from multiple news reports)
