Following snowfall in Kedarnath and Badrinath and in view of the inclement weather, pilgrims going towards these shrines have been made to halt at secure locations. In Uttarkashi district, one person acting as a porter for a group of trekkers on the Kedartal trek reportedly died in an avalanche on Tuesday. A State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team was dispatched to the area to bring back the group of trekkers who were reported to be secure in the area experiencing snowfall. Meanwhile, the Union Home minister Rajnath Singh had a telephonic conversation with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and assured him all necessary assistance from the Centre in case of emergency situation.
As forecast earlier, various parts of the State experienced rain and strong winds while snowfall was reported in various mountainous areas of Garhwal and Kumaon regions. Uttarkashi superintendent of police Dadan Pal informed The Pioneer that a porter accompanying a group of trekkers to Kedartal had reportedly died in an avalanche. The other members of the group are safe and a team has left to bring them back.
Meanwhile, in a telephonic conversation, the Union Home Minister assured Uttarakhand Chief Minister that in case of any emergency, the Centre will provide all required assistance. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been directed to remain ready to tackle any type of emergency situation. Rawat informed Singh that considering the weather warning, all necessary precautions have been taken. The disaster management department and district magistrates are consistently monitoring the situation, he averred.
The SDRF teams are on full alert while the situation is also being monitored by the chief minister himself. According to the disaster management department, in Kedarnath 4272 pilgrims had been sent to Gaurikund. The 272 pilgrims who had started towards Kedarnath on Tuesday have been made to halt at secure locations for their safety in view of the weather. While Kedarnath experienced snowfall, other places in the Rudraprayag district received rainfall on Tuesday.
In Chamoli district too, Badrinath received snowfall while rain was reported in other parts of the district. Dehradun also experienced rough weather with strong winds and rain being experienced past Monday midnight and on Tuesday evening.