Gopeshwar, August 12(HS): Authorities in Uttarakhand have temporarily halted pilgrimages to the revered Badrinath Dham and Hemkund Sahib shrines until August 14, following a severe weather warning issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari announced the suspension on Tuesday, citing forecasts of heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours. The Badrinath National Highway, a critical access route for pilgrims, has been repeatedly blocked by landslides near Kameda, making vehicular movement dangerous and unreliable.

Given the heavy rain alert and the intermittent road blockages, the decision has been taken purely in the interest of pilgrim safety, Tiwari said.

In addition to halting vehicular travel, trekking routes in the region have been closed to tourists as a precautionary measure against landslips and flash floods. Officials will assess conditions and announce a decision on resuming the yatra once updated guidance from the IMD is received.

The Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib Yatra attract thousands of pilgrims every season, but the steep terrain and fragile mountain roads make the region particularly vulnerable during the monsoon. Authorities have urged devotees to defer travel plans and remain alert to official weather advisories.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar