Uttarakhand News: Avalanche Hits Gandhi Sarovar in Kedarnath | Watch Video
Uttarakhand News: Avalanche Hits Gandhi Sarovar in Kedarnath | Watch Video
An avalanche occurred over Gandhi Sarovar in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand, early Sunday morning. A video shared by news agency showed snow rapidly flowing down the slopes.
“There was an avalanche from above Gandhi Sarovar in Kedarnath at around 5 am today. There was no loss of life or property,” Rudraprayag Senior Superintendent of Police Dr. Vishakha Ashok Bhadane told the news agency.
An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a hill or mountainside, often preceded by warning signs such as cracking sounds, visible fractures in the snow, and recent heavy snowfall.
Earlier this month, Kedarnath Dham saw a massive influx of devotees, with over 7 lakh pilgrims visiting by June 6. According to the district magistrate of Rudraprayag, 7,10,698 pilgrims visited the 11th Jyotirlinga Kedarnath Dham in just 28 days since May 10.
The Uttarakhand government has made registration mandatory for all pilgrims coming for the Chardham Yatra. On May 22, state chief secretary Radha Raturi issued an advisory for mandatory registration.
Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla suggested forming a committee to develop a future strategy for Chardham Yatra management, emphasizing strict monitoring at the ground level.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami noted that improved infrastructure has doubled the number of pilgrims compared to last year. While 19 lakh pilgrims visited Kedarnath last year, 10 lakh have already visited this year.
The Hindu Char Dham pilgrimage circuit includes Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. The River Yamuna originates from the Yamunotri Glacier in Uttarakhand. Pilgrimage season peaks during the summer months.
