Pilgrim killed by falling boulders as Kedarnath route shut due to landslides

A 65-year-old pilgrim died after boulders dislodged from a hillside struck him near the Cheerbasa Helipad in Kedarnath on Sunday, prompting authorities to halt all movement along the pilgrimage route amid continuing rain and landslides.

The State Emergency Operation Centre identified the victim as Madan Mohan Tiwari, a resident of Ukhimath, who was killed on the spot when the boulders rolled down from the hill.

Route blocked by debris

Police said the Kedarnath pilgrimage route has been blocked due to debris amid rain. The suspension came as landslides triggered by rainfall left sections of the trail impassable, forcing officials to implement a full travel halt to prevent further casualties.

Authorities have directed travellers heading toward Kedarnath to halt at Sonprayag and Gaurikund, the lower staging points on the route, while pilgrims returning from the shrine have been told to stop at Jangalchatti. Officials have requested all pilgrims not to proceed further along the route until the trail is cleared and official permission is granted.

Pilgrim movement will resume only after weather conditions normalise and routes are cleared for safety, officials said. The temporary suspension underscores the vulnerability of the high-altitude trail during the monsoon months, when loose rock and saturated slopes pose acute hazards to the thousands who trek to the shrine each season.

Source: The Hindu