Sonprayag, July 3 — The Kedarnath pilgrimage was suspended on Thursday after a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall struck the Munkatiya sliding zone near Sonprayag, blocking the route to the revered Himalayan shrine.
According to police officials, the landslide left the road completely choked with debris and boulders, forcing authorities to temporarily halt the yatra. “The route has been blocked at Munkatiya due to heavy landslide. As a precautionary measure, we’ve stopped the pilgrimage for now,” a police spokesperson said.
The landslide occurred as pilgrims were making their way from Gaurikund towards Sonprayag. Several devotees returning from the Kedarnath temple found themselves trapped in the sliding zone. Quick response teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) managed to reach the spot and carry out rescue operations under difficult weather and terrain conditions.
“All the stranded pilgrims were brought to safety in Sonprayag. No casualties have been reported so far,” said an SDRF official involved in the rescue.
The district administration is closely monitoring the situation, and road-clearing operations are underway. The yatra will resume once the path is deemed safe for travel.
The incident underscores the fragile conditions in the region during the monsoon season, which often sees frequent landslides along the Char Dham route.
