Continuous heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand has severely affected the Kedarnath Yatra, with a major landslide blocking the pilgrimage route near Gaurikund on Thursday morning. A major disaster was narrowly avoided after a large portion of the hillside collapsed around 200 metres ahead of the Gaurikund gate, completely blocking the pedestrian route to Kedarnath.

A huge amount of soil, rocks and massive boulders fell onto the trekking path, bringing the yatra route to a standstill. Considering the safety of pilgrims, the administration immediately restricted movement on the route and stopped further travel towards Kedarnath.

According to eyewitnesses, the landslide occurred suddenly with a loud rumbling sound, followed by heavy rocks and debris sliding down from the mountain. Fortunately, fewer pilgrims were present at the spot during the incident, preventing a major tragedy.

Soon after receiving information about the landslide, teams from the district administration, District Disaster Response Force (DDRF) and other departments reached the site. Rescue and restoration work was started to clear the debris from the route. However, continuous rainfall and falling rocks from the hillside have created difficulties in carrying out the operation.

District Disaster Management Officer Nand Singh Rajwar said the landslide near Gaurikund has severely affected the Kedarnath trekking route. DDRF teams have been deployed at the location and the situation is being closely monitored.

Authorities have said the Kedarnath pilgrimage will resume only after the route is declared completely safe and weather conditions improve. Pilgrims have been advised not to believe rumours and strictly follow official instructions issued by the administration.

The Kedarnath foot pilgrimage has been completely suspended for the time being, and stranded pilgrims have been shifted to safer locations. Devotees have been asked to wait for further instructions before planning their journey.

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.

Continuous heavy rainfall and adverse weather conditions have prompted authorities in several parts of India to suspend classes on July 7, 2026, as a precautionary measure. Following Red and Orange alerts issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), district administrations in Maharashtra, Odisha and Uttarakhand have announced the closure of schools, colleges and anganwadi centres in affected areas to ensure the safety of students.

In Maharashtra, incessant rainfall has disrupted normal life, particularly in Pune, where a Red Alert has been issued. Schools and anganwadi centres are likely to remain closed in the worst-affected areas, including Lonavala. Authorities in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Palghar and Raigad are also monitoring the situation closely, with school closures expected in view of waterlogging and traffic disruptions.

In Odisha, the state government has placed the administration on high alert after three consecutive days of heavy rainfall. According to the Revenue Department, all schools and colleges in Cuttack, Kandhamal, Sambalpur, Subarnapur (Sonepur) and Bargarh have been directed to remain closed on Tuesday. The IMD has also issued Orange Alerts for several districts, including Bargarh, Sambalpur, Angul, Boudh, Nuapada and Balangir, warning of further heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand continues to witness intense rainfall, triggering landslides and blocking several roads, including stretches of the Badrinath National Highway. In view of the hazardous conditions, district administrations in vulnerable areas have ordered schools to remain closed to safeguard students.

The IMD has also warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in several other states, and local authorities may announce additional school closures depending on changing weather conditions.

Officials have urged parents and students not to rely on unverified social media posts for information. Instead, they have been advised to follow updates issued by state education departments, district administrations, municipal authorities and their respective schools through official notifications, emails and WhatsApp groups for the latest announcements on school closures.