Char Dham Yatra temporarily suspended as incessant rains lash Uttarakhand

Chardham pilgrims, who had arrived in Haridwar and Rishikesh by Sunday, have been asked not to proceed further till the weather improves while operation of vehicles for the Himalayan temples has been suspended temporarily.

Dehradun: The Uttarakhand government has temporarily suspended the Char Dham Yatra as heavy rainfall continued to lash the hill state for second consecutive day on Monday.

According to reports, at least five people, including three labourers from Nepal, were killed and two others were injured due to heavy rainfall in parts of Uttarakhand forcing the authorities to advice Chardham pilgrims not to proceed to the Himalayan temples till the weather improves.

The labourers were staying in a tent at Samkhal near Lansdowne in Pauri district when rubble flowing down from a field above due to the rains buried them alive, District Magistrate Vijay Kumar Jogdande said.