The Badrinath-Rishikesh highway near Sirobagadh in Uttarakhand has been closed a day after the commencement of Char Dham Yatra due to heavy rainfall, as two persons were killed and six people sustained injuries. Meanwhile, due to the damage of the building 17 were injured.
Additionally, passengers heading to Badrinath and Kedarnath have been stopped at Srikot-Srinagar and Kaliyasod.
Taking to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Uttarakhand police wrote, “Due to continuous rain late at night, the national highway is blocked for traffic due to debris and stones falling from the hill near Sirobgadh situated on the border of Rudraprayag and Pauri districts. Its alternative route (via Chanti Khal) is also blocked.”
IMD predicts rainfall, hailstorm
According to the India Meteorological Department forecast, thunderstorms with hail is predicted in Rudraprayag till Monday and rain in several parts of the State.
Srinagar Kotwal Hoshiyar Singh Pankholi said that care is being taken to ensure that passengers do not face any problems. Due to continuous debris falling in Sirobagadh, the road has not been opened yet.
On Friday, May 10, the temples of Kedarnath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri in the Garhwal Himalayas were opened to the public in honour of Akshaya Tritiya, which signifies the beginning of the Chardham Yatra. Assam Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, wife Geeta, and wife of Himanta Biswa Sarma, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, were present at the Kedarnath opening ceremony.
(with ANI inputs)