Kedarnath Yatra update: The Kedarnath Yatra in Uttarakhand has been halted for today (May 3) in the wake of incessant snowfall, officials said on Tuesday (May 2). Kedarnath Dham is one of the Char Dhams in the state. An orange alert has also been issued in the region. The registration of pilgrims for Kedarnath has also been suspended till May 3, 2023, the district administration said.
"Due to bad weather and snowfall in Kedarnath, the registration of pilgrims for Kedarnath has been stopped till tomorrow May 3. The decision regarding registration will be taken keeping in view the weather conditions," Mayur Dixit, Rudraprayag District Magistrate (DM) said.
Meanwhile, the registrations are being done only for Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham at the passenger registration centre located in Rishikesh, the District Magistrate added.
IMPORTANT HELPLINE NUMBERS
CharDham Yatra Control Room
08 AM – 02 PM +91–7060476060, 783082780402 PM – 08 PM +91– 9870622046, 9458131333
Toll Free 1364
Disaster Management Control Room 0135-2710232, 0135-2710233
Important Contact Number for Badrinath-Kedarnath Yatra
Name of Post Office Number
D.M. Rudraprayag 01364-233300 / 233376
S.P. Rudraprayag 01364-233210 / 233388
Badrinath – Kedarnath Temple Commitee, Joshimath 01389-222124
D.M. Chamoli 01372-252102 / 252101
S.P. Chamoli 01372-252134 / 252133
Badrinath – Kedarnath Temple Commitee, Badrinath 01381-222205
Tourist Information Centre, Gopeshwar 01372-253185
Tourist Information is also available after the office hours at 0135-2624147
Uttaranchal Tourism Development Board, Dehradun 0135-2624147
On Monday (May 1), the Meteorological Department issued an alert of rain and snowfall in the high Himalayan regions for the next 2-3 days. Rudraprayag District Magistrate Mayur Dixit said that an appeal has been made for the safety of the pilgrims coming to visit Kedarnath Dham.
Weather updates:
The MeT Department had forecast similar weather for the high-altitude temples in Uttarakhand till May 4 and advised the pilgrims, especially the ones bound for Kedarnath, to stay where they were and proceed on their onward journey only after the weather improved.
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"Yatra to Kedarnath has been put on hold till tomorrow for the safety of pilgrims in view of the MeT Department alert of heavy rains and snow in parts of the state," Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said on Tuesday.
The pilgrims have been asked to wait in Gaurikund and Sonprayag till the weather improves and they can resume their journey, he said. Pilgrims visiting Kedarnath and other Himalayan temples in Uttarakhand have been advised to take precautions as bad weather persisted in the region on Tuesday, officials said.
Uttarakhand DGP on Kedarnath Yatra:
DGP Ashok Kumar visited Kedarnath to take stock of the situation and appealed to pilgrims, especially those with heart ailments, to take necessary precautions.
Citing that oxygen pressure at such heights of over 11,000 feet can decrease amid the continuous snowfall, Kumar advised all pilgrims to remain careful. "Those who have heart diseases should bring their medicines with them so that they don't face any problem," he added.
Snowfall continued in Kedarnath and intermittent rains battered Gangotri and Yamunotri on Tuesday. Pilgrims visiting Gangotri and Yamunotri have been asked to stay alert even as their yatra remains uninterrupted, Uttarkashi Disaster Management Officer Devendra Patwal said.
When Kedarnath Yatra commenced:
Earlier on April 25 the day the doors of Kedarnath Dham opened, the Uttarakhand government stopped accepting registration applications from pilgrims for the Kedarnath Dham Yatra in view of heavy snowfall on the pilgrimage route and a warning of inclement weather by the Met Department.
The Kedarnath temple is one of the most revered temples in the country dedicated to Lord Shiva and people from across the country visit the temple during the six months when the temple is open. The Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand is one of the most popular Hindu pilgrimages in India. This pilgrimage is a tour of four holy sites- Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri- nestled high up in the Himalayas.
(With agencies inputs)
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