Over 10,000 Kedarnath pilgrims rescued after massive landslip in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag

Joint rescue teams safely evacuated 10,450 pilgrims stranded connected the Kedarnath way successful Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag pursuing a abrupt landslip astatine Munkatiya, officials said connected Thursday (May 21, 2026).

According to the officials, the landslip occurred betwixt Sonprayag and Gaurikund connected Tuesday (May 19) precocious nighttime aft dense rainfall successful the region. The debris blocked the main road and trapped a ample fig of pilgrims.

Continuous rockfalls, dense rainfall, darkness, and challenging mountainous terrain created a highly hard concern for the stranded travellers.

The District Control Room (DCR) Rudraprayag alerted the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) astatine 9.16 p.m. A rescue squad from Sonprayag instantly rushed to the spot with the indispensable equipment.

The SDRF and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) past launched a associated alleviation and rescue operation.

The associated teams guided the 10,450 stranded pilgrims crossed the affected stretch. The rescue unit motivated the pilgrims amid continuous rainfall and debased visibility.

The teams shifted the evacuated pilgrims to designated harmless locations.

Officials deployed JCB machines to wide the accumulated debris aft completing the rescue operations.

The authorities restored the road and resumed mean vehicular question soon after.

SDRF Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi said the teams stationed on the pilgrimage way maintained precocious alertness.

Mr. Yaduvanshi added that this beforehand deployment facilitated a speedy effect and effectual coordination.

Workers cleared the debris, and the blockage was removed, and the stranded vehicles near the area, the authoritative added.