At least three pilgrims lost their lives in a landslide triggered by heavy rains while they were en route to the Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand today on Sunday, officials reported. The tragic incident occurred near the Chirbasa area on the Gaurikund-Kedarnath trekking route in Rudraprayag district.
Eight other people were injured in the accident and have been transported to a nearby hospital for medical care. The deceased have been identified as Kishore Arun Parate (31) from Nagpur, Maharashtra, Sunil Mahadev Kale (24) from Jalna district, Maharashtra, and Anurag Bisht from Rudraprayag, according to an official statement to the PTI news agency.
"Devotees were buried under the debris at Chirbasa on the Kedarnath Yatra route. Teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and District Disaster Response Force (DDRF) are actively engaged in rescue operations," announced Rudraprayag's District Magistrate via a post on X.
"Efforts are being made to minimize further injuries and loss of life. The district administration has urged travelers to stay in safe locations," the senior official added.
Relief and rescue work is ongoing at the site: CM
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his sorrow over the loss of lives in the incident. "Relief and rescue work is ongoing at the site. I am in constant communication with the officials involved. Instructions have been issued to ensure the injured receive the best possible treatment," he stated on X.
The Chief Minister also conveyed his grief over the casualties, posting on his official X handle, "The news of casualties due to debris and heavy stones falling near the Kedarnath Yatra route is extremely saddening. May God grant peace to the departed souls and give strength to the bereaved families to bear this immense sorrow."
In light of the ongoing heavy rains, the weather office has issued a red alert for Uttarakhand for Sunday and Monday, predicting extremely heavy rainfall in parts of the state.
Char Dham Yatra and Kedarnath Temple
Kedarnath temple is a significant part of the Char Dham Yatra, which commenced on May 10 this year. The Char Dham Yatra, which includes visits to Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, holds deep spiritual importance in Hinduism and typically takes place from April-May to October-November.
Traditionally, the Char Dham Yatra is undertaken in a clockwise direction, starting from Yamunotri, proceeding to Gangotri, then Kedarnath, and concluding at Badrinath. This pilgrimage is considered highly auspicious and is believed to be essential for attaining spiritual liberation.