50 pilgrims stranded in Uttarakhand as heavy rain triggers landslides
PTC News Desk: Due to heavy rain and landslides on the trekking route, the yatra to the Madmaheshwar Temple in Uttarakhand was halted on Thursday, leaving at least fifty pilgrims and villagers stuck nearby.
Officials said that the area’s constant rain caused a temporary wooden bridge across the Markanda River to wash away, further interrupting the yatra to the shrine.
Situated at an elevation of 11,473 feet, the shrine is a part of the Panch Kedar collection of temples in Uttarakhand. A ‘orange alert’ was issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for Dehradun and Bageshwar on Thursday, indicating the possibility of moderate to heavy rainfall in the region.
Following the advise, the city’s administration made the decision to close all Anganwadi centers and schools for Friday, July 26.
“All government and private schools from class 1 to 12 and Anganwadi centres in Dehradun will remain closed on Friday in view of a ‘orange’ alert issued by the NDMA’s National Disaster Alert Portal for heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in the district,” the deputy mayor of Dehradun announced. The choice was taken to avoid any unfortunate events because, as it was stated, “rain increases the vulnerability of many areas in the district to landslides”.
Meanwhile, a bridge collapsed in the Rudraprayag district during the trekking route to the Madmaheshwar Temple last year as well. Nearly 300 pilgrims were at that time successfully removed by the rescuers from the route. Officials from the Rudraprayag District Disaster Management said that 293 devotees were evacuated as the rescue mission came to an end.