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4w ago

Munkatia Landslide Halts Kedarnath Yatra as Pilgrims Evacuated

Rockfalls accompanied by intermittent rain have halted debris clearing, extending restoration timelines to as much as three days.

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The Char Dham Yatra to Kedarnath was suspended following a massive landslide at Munkatia between Sonprayag and Gaurikund in Rudraprayag district.

Overview

  • A massive landslide on July 29–30 at Munkatia washed away a 50-metre stretch of the Sonprayag–Gaurikund road, forcing suspension of the Kedarnath pilgrimage.
  • Debris-clearing operations with JCB machines have been paused after large boulders continued to fall during intermittent rain.
  • SDRF and NDRF personnel evacuated 1,489 pilgrims via makeshift forest trails by 5 pm and remain on standby to guide those still arriving.
  • Officials report that the alternative pedestrian route has also been compromised and estimate two to three days to reopen both main and detour roads.
  • This is the second suspension of the Kedarnath Yatra this monsoon season, underscoring the ongoing vulnerability of Himalayan pilgrimage infrastructure.