Uttarakhand: Rudraprayag DM inspects Kedarnath Yatra route, instructs officials to ensure safety of pilgrims
Rudraprayag (Uttarakhand) [India], September 10 (ANI): The District Magistrate of Rudraprayag, Saurabh Gaharwar on Tuesday inspected the damaged road and landslide-affected area between Sonprayag to Gaurikund by conducting a ground inspection of the Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra route.
During this, DM Saurabh Gaharwar instructed the Sector Magistrate and other employees deployed in the Yatra arrangements along with the Police Administration to take special care of the safety of the pilgrims.
He also instructed the Executive Engineer National Highway to make a concrete strategy for the landslide-affected area and to make the traffic smooth.
Due to heavy rainfall in Sonprayag, for the first time the movement from Sonprayag to Gaurikund and Gaurikund to Sonprayag has been banned after 5 pm in view of the safety of the pilgrims.
SP Akshay Konde also instructed the Inspector-in-Charge Kotwali Sonprayag and the In-Charge Reporting Police Post Gaurikund to work with discretion to keep the Yatra running and stop it.
Meanwhile, the death toll in the landslide that occurred near Sonprayag area on Monday night increased to five people. Three people were found injured.
The landslide occurred due to torrential rains in the area. Relief and rescue operations are underway.
According to Uttarakhand Police, information was received about some travellers reportedly buried under the debris, following which a joint operation was carried out by the police, administration, state disaster response forces, and national disaster response forces.