A major cloudburst incident was reported late Wednesday night in the holy town of Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, which has led to around 200 pilgrims believed to be stranded in the area, as per initial reports. Emergency response teams have been rushed to the location to assist with rescue operations. The cloudburst triggered flash flooding in nearby streams and rivers, with the water levels of Mandakini river seeing a sharp rise in Sonprayag. Videos emerging from the scene show the dramatic rise in water levels and damage caused along the trekking routes.
While no casualties have been reported so far, the priority for response teams is to ensure all pilgrims stranded in Kedarnath reach safety. The cloudburst damaged approximately 30 meters of the popular Kedarnath trekking path, forcing temporary closure for safety checking. Heavy rainfall was also experienced in Haridwar and surrounding areas on Wednesday, flooding many localities and roads. Schools in Dehradun, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar will remain shut today keeping the weather conditions in mind.
The Meteorological Department has issued a high alert for seven districts of Uttarakhand over the next 48 hours, predicting very heavy rainfall during this period. District administrations have mobilized efforts to move people to safer areas and provide relief as needed. With monsoon rains expected to continue, cautious approach is advisable for travel to affected regions of the state in the interests of safety. Updates are awaited on the situation in Kedarnath as search and relief efforts are underway. People are requested to pray for well being of those in affected areas during these difficult times.
