New Delhi: As rain temporarily subsided in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district on Tuesday morning after intermittent showers through the night, the Kedarnath pilgrimage continued on Tuesday, allowing devotees to visit the shrine.
However, the caution persists, and authorities remain on high alert for heavy rainfall later in the day, given an orange alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Weather conditions at the Kedarnath shrine were reported to be normal in the morning, allowing pilgrims to continue offering prayers and paying obeisance to Lord Kedarnath without disruption.
Despite the brief improvement in weather, the district administration has urged residents and pilgrims to remain cautious, warning that heavy rain is still likely during the day.
As a precautionary measure, the Rudraprayag district administration has declared a holiday for all government and private schools from Classes 1 to 12, as well as Anganwadi centres, in view of the weather forecast. Officials said the decision was taken to ensure the safety of students and staff amid the possibility of intense rainfall.
The administration has also appealed to local residents and pilgrims to strictly follow official advisories and avoid unnecessary travel to vulnerable areas during adverse weather conditions.
Despite persistent rain and low temperatures in the Himalayan region, the annual Kedarnath Yatra continues to be conducted smoothly under the close supervision of the district administration. According to official figures, more than 1.41 million (14,14,590) devotees have so far visited the revered Himalayan shrine, reflecting the strong faith and enthusiasm of pilgrims.
Earlier on Saturday, both the Kedarnath and Badrinath shrines remained enveloped in dense fog from the morning hours. Continuous rainfall led to a noticeable drop in temperatures across the pilgrimage sites and surrounding areas. However, the Char Dham Yatra continued uninterrupted, with devotees continuing to arrive for darshan despite the challenging weather conditions.
Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra said the Kedarnath Yatra is proceeding smoothly under administrative supervision. He noted that the pilgrimage had been briefly suspended over the past two days following heavy rain alerts, during which pilgrims were halted at safe locations as a precaution. Once conditions improved, the movement of pilgrims resumed in a phased and regulated manner.
Authorities have advised all pilgrims to remain updated on weather bulletins and cooperate with officials to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage.
--IANS
