The Aryavarth Express
Rudraprayag (Uttarakhand): Rescue forces ensured the safe movement of pilgrims through an alternate route that was created after the Kedarnath trek route at the Jungle Chatti area was damaged due to a landslide in the Kedar Valley.
Visuals show the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the police assisting the pilgrims at the alternative route.
A temporary alternative route was created after the pilgrimage footpath near Jungle Chatti on the way to Shri Kedarnath Dham was damaged.
The Uttarakhand Police had earlier posted an advisory on X, “The Shri Kedarnath Dham foot journey route has been damaged near Jungle Chatti. An appeal to the devotees is to wait safely at the place where they are. Once the route is restored, devotees returning after visiting Kedarnath from Jungle Chatti will be evacuated on a priority basis.”
The footpath leading to Kedarnath Dham was damaged by a landslide near Jungle Chatti, about one km ahead of Gaurikund, due to which the movement here was completely stopped.
The passengers returning from Kedarnath after Darshan were evacuated throughout the day with the help of police, NDRF, and DDRF teams.
The District Magistrate of Rudraprayag, Saurabh Gaharwar, earlier inspected the damaged road and landslide-affected area between Sonprayag and Gaurikund by conducting a ground inspection of the Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra route.
During this, DM Saurabh Gaharwar instructed the Sector Magistrate and other employees deployed in the Yatra arrangements along with the Police Administration to take special care of the safety of the pilgrims.
The death toll in the landslide that occurred near the Sonprayag area on September 9 was five. Three people were found injured. The landslide occurred due to torrential rains in the area.
According to Uttarakhand Police, information was received about some travellers reportedly buried under the debris, following which a joint operation was carried out by the police, administration, state disaster response forces, and national disaster response forces.
