Dehradun: The Uttarakhand government has temporarily suspended the Char Dham and Hemkund Sahib Yatra following red and orange alerts for heavy rainfall issued by the Meteorological Department.
Garhwal Commissioner and Chief Minister’s Secretary Vinay Shankar Pandey confirmed that the pilgrimage will remain halted until September 5. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said several districts are under weather alerts, with the next 24–48 hours described as “crucial.”
“Our administration, along with NDRF and SDRF teams, is on high alert. We are monitoring Nanak Sagar Dam, which is currently five feet below the danger level,” Dhami said on Sunday.
The Chief Minister added that affected families are being shifted to safer locations and relief camps have been set up to provide essential services. Efforts are also underway to clear blocked roads and restore connectivity.
Dhami directed officials to stay on round-the-clock duty, with particular focus on landslide-prone routes and low-lying areas at risk of waterlogging. He warned that the state may face greater challenges in the coming days as heavy rain continues.
