3 dead as boulders hit Kedarnath hiking route amid heavy rain in Uttarakhand

At least three people were dead, while two others were injured as boulders rolled down onto the Kedarnath hiking route in Uttarakhand.

The incident happened near Gauri Kund on Sunday.

A rescue team had reached the spot soon after receiving information about the incident.

“The news of some pilgrims getting injured due to debris and heavy stones falling from the hill near the Kedarnath Yatra route is very sad. Relief and rescue work is going on at the site of the accident. I am constantly in touch with the officials in this regard,” a rough translation of Dhami’s tweet in Hindi suggested.

“I have given instructions to provide better treatment to the people injured in the accident immediately. May God grant the departed souls a place in His feet and give strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense sorrow,” the Chief Minister said.

On July 19, the Tanakpur Champawat National Highway was blocked due to debris triggered by a landslide, following intermittent rainfall.

Earlier on July 10, the road was blocked due to a landslide on the hill near the Patal Ganga Langsi tunnel on the Badrinath National Highway.

Traffic was partially resumed on the Badrinath National Highway near Joshimath after it was blocked due to a landslide.

Heavy rain in parts of Uttarakhand over the past few days has triggered landslides in the hills, with the highway to Badrinath blocked at several points by rubble.