1 dead, 2 injured, bridle path to Kedarnath temporarily closed due to heavy rain
PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The bridle path to Kedarnath in Rudraprayag district was temporarily closed on Sunday due to heavy rain. One person died and two people sustained injuries after being hit by debris and stones, the Rudraprayag superintendent of police, Akshay Konde, said. He informed that the continuous rain caused a stream near Junglechatti to overflow, blocking the pedestrian route to Kedarnath. The path has been obstructed at several points due to landslides. He said that large amounts of debris and stones fell on the path, making it difficult for people to move forward safely. Considering this, the authorities suspended the pilgrimage from Sonprayag until further orders in order to keep the pilgrims safe and avoid further accidents. Police are currently escorting stranded pilgrims down to lower areas from Junglechatti under their supervision, he added. The SP also appealed to the stranded pilgrims to remain where they are and stay in nearby hotels or sheltered accommodations until the route is cleared. He said that the administration is assessing the situation and clearing debris from the path in a systematic manner. The authorities are closely monitoring the rain and the condition of the route. The pilgrimage will resume once it is considered safe for people to travel to Kedarnath, he added, stating that the safety of the pilgrims is the administration’s top priority at all times.
