Kedarnath Yatra Halted for Three Days Due to Heavy Rain Alert; Altercation Between Pilgrims and Police in Sonprayag

DAINIK NATION BUREAU/RUDRAPRAYAG

In view of the forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall, the Rudraprayag district administration has suspended the Kedarnath Dham Yatra for three days starting August 12. The decision was taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of pilgrims amid continuous rain, fog, and hazardous conditions along the yatra route.

District police have been requesting devotees not to proceed beyond the Jawadi police post. Those who have reached Sonprayag are being stopped from going further. To enforce the order, barricades have been installed at Sonprayag. However, a group of pilgrims allegedly tried to push past the barricades, leading to an altercation with the police. A video of the incident has since gone viral on social media.

Superintendent of Police Rudraprayag, Akshay Prahlad Konde, confirmed that the yatra closure is strictly for safety reasons. “Due to excessive rain and dense fog in the Kedar Valley, there are significant problems along the entire route. Police are stopping pilgrims at various points for their protection. However, some pilgrims have been reaching Sonprayag secretly by using local transport like buses and shared taxis,” he said.

According to the SP, on Tuesday morning around 100–150 pilgrims arrived in Sonprayag despite the restrictions and attempted to move ahead after arguing with the police. Officers intervened and prevented them from proceeding further. “No untoward incident took place. The yatra remains completely suspended, and once the weather improves, pilgrims who have already reached Kedarnath will be brought back safely,” he added.

Authorities have urged devotees to cooperate with the safety measures and avoid travelling towards Kedarnath until official clearance is given.