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A massive multi-agency rescue operation is underway in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand after devastating landslides near the Kedarnath pilgrimage route stranded thousands of devotees amid relentless rainfall and dangerous terrain conditions. Authorities confirmed that more than 10,000 pilgrims have been safely rescued and evacuated over the past 48 hours in what officials are calling one of the largest emergency rescue missions of this year’s Char Dham Yatra season.
The landslide struck several stretches of the trekking route connecting Gaurikund to the revered Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath Temple late Tuesday night following continuous heavy rainfall in the region. Massive boulders, mud, and debris blocked pathways, damaged temporary shelters, and disrupted communication networks, leaving pilgrims trapped at multiple locations in the upper reaches of the valley.
According to state disaster management authorities, rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, local police, and army units were immediately mobilized after weather conditions briefly improved on Wednesday morning.
Helicopters were deployed to airlift elderly pilgrims, women, and children from inaccessible areas, while hundreds of rescue personnel carried out ground evacuations through slippery mountain trails under challenging weather conditions. Officials said many stranded pilgrims were suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, and cold exposure after spending hours without proper shelter.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reviewed the situation through high-level emergency meetings and directed all district administrations to prioritize rescue and medical support. He assured families that every effort was being made to ensure the safety of pilgrims and restore normal movement along the Char Dham route.
“Saving lives remains our top priority. Teams are working continuously despite adverse weather and difficult terrain,” the Chief Minister said while monitoring operations from the state emergency control room in Dehradun.
Medical camps and temporary relief centers have been established at Sonprayag, Gaurikund, and nearby transit points where rescued pilgrims are receiving food, blankets, medicines, and transportation assistance. Several pilgrims described scenes of panic as sudden landslides and flash floods triggered chaos along narrow mountain paths.
“We heard a loud roar from the mountains and suddenly rocks started falling. Everyone began running for safety,” said a pilgrim from Maharashtra who was rescued Wednesday evening.
Weather agencies have issued fresh warnings for heavy rainfall across parts of Uttarakhand over the next few days, raising concerns about further landslides and flash flood risks in vulnerable hill districts. Authorities have temporarily suspended fresh pilgrim movement toward Kedarnath and advised travelers to avoid unnecessary journeys into high-altitude regions until conditions stabilize.
The annual Char Dham Yatra, one of Hinduism’s most significant pilgrimage circuits, attracts lakhs of devotees every year to the sacred Himalayan shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. However, the fragile mountain terrain and unpredictable monsoon weather continue to pose major risks for pilgrims and local residents alike.
Disaster experts have once again highlighted the urgent need for stronger infrastructure, better weather forecasting systems, and improved crowd management mechanisms in ecologically sensitive Himalayan zones.
Meanwhile, rescue and road-clearing operations continue round the clock as officials work to restore connectivity and ensure no pilgrims remain stranded in remote stretches near the shrine.
