More than 350 pilgrims travelling to Adi Kailash were stopped at Dharchula in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district after a landslide blocked the route to Gunji, officials said on Friday.
The landslide occurred at Mangti nullah during the previous night, disrupting movement on the pilgrimage route. The Border Roads Organisation had cleared snow from the Kuti-Jolingkong stretch two days earlier, allowing vehicles to reach the Adi Kailash temple. However, the fresh landslide once again affected the journey.
Dhan Singh Bisht, in-charge of the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam base camp at Dharchula, said some groups had managed to have darshan of the sacred peak from near Jolingkong before the latest disruption. An approximately eight-kilometre stretch of the route was still covered in heavy snow.
Despite the difficult weather and road conditions, pilgrims remained enthusiastic about continuing their journey. Officials also said the process of issuing inner-line permits had resumed.
The weather situation is expected to improve temporarily. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the southwest monsoon is likely to withdraw from Uttarakhand within the next 24 hours as conditions have become favourable for its retreat.
The state recorded largely dry weather in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Friday. Twelve of Uttarakhand’s 13 districts reported no rainfall, while Bageshwar recorded 0.8 mm of rain.
However, the weather could turn unsettled again next week. The IMD forecast dry conditions over the weekend, with isolated morning fog likely in the plains. Light rain, thunderstorms and lightning may return at isolated places in the hills from Monday.
From Tuesday, light to moderate rainfall is expected at several locations, while Wednesday could see more widespread rain, including heavy showers at some places. Rain activity is then expected to gradually decrease from Thursday.
Authorities are keeping a close watch on the pilgrimage route as the landslide and changing weather conditions continue to pose challenges for pilgrims travelling towards the high-altitude Adi Kailash region.
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