The Char Dham Yatra has been temporarily suspended for Tuesday and Wednesday following incessant heavy rainfall across Uttarakhand, which has triggered landslides, road blockages and heightened flood risks. The decision was taken by the state administration to ensure the safety of thousands of pilgrims travelling to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.
According to the Garhwal Divisional Commissioner, the pilgrimage will resume only after weather conditions improve and all routes are declared safe for travel.
The Central Water Commission (CWC) has issued a moderate flood risk warning for Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also forecast continued heavy rainfall and issued a 24-hour flood outlook, valid until 5:30 a.m. on July 29, 2026, prompting authorities to keep emergency response teams on high alert.
Continuous rainfall over the past few days has caused landslides and falling debris, blocking several key highways leading to the Char Dham shrines. Authorities fear further disruption as more rain is expected over the next few hours.
The IMD has issued orange alerts for several districts in Uttarakhand, including Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Dehradun, Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal, Nainital, Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi, warning of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and possible landslides. Similar alerts have also been issued for parts of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
Meanwhile, a newly constructed bridge over the Tons River near Nanda Ki Chowki in Dehradun’s Prem Nagar area has been damaged by the relentless rain, disrupting traffic between Dehradun, Vikasnagar and neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.
As a precaution, the state government has ordered the closure of all schools and Anganwadi centres in the affected districts on Tuesday. Residents, tourists and pilgrims have been advised to avoid rivers and streams, refrain from unnecessary travel, follow official advisories and rely only on verified government information.