Kedarnath

Number of devotees at Kedarnath touched a new record this year: CM Dhami

The doors of Kedarnath Dham will be closing for the winter season on Sunday, November 3 at 8:30 AM. The Kedarnath site opened its doors on April 25

Congress, BJP announce candidates for Nov 20 Kedarnath Assembly bypoll

The Congress and the BJP on Sunday announced their candidates for the November 20 Kedarnath assembly bypoll in Uttarakhand. The Congress has named former MLA Manoj Rawat as its candidate while the ruling BJP has fielded Pradesh Mahila Morcha president Asha Nautiyal. Nautiyal was elected from the seat in 2002 and 2007 on a BJP ticket. A former journalist, Manoj Rawat won from Kedarnath in 2017. He lost to the BJP's Shaila Rani Rawat in the 2022 polls. The bypoll, the result of which will be declared on November 23, was necessitated by Shaila Rani Rawat's death in July.

Nearly 75% of Chardham project in Uttarakhand complete: Centre to SC

The Centre on Monday informed the Supreme Court that almost 75 per cent of the awarded work of the strategic Chardham Project in Uttarakhand which goes up to China border, was complete. The strategic 900-kilometre project aims to provide an all-weather connectivity to the four holy shrines in Uttarakhand -- Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, informed a bench of Justices C T Ravikumar and Ujjal Bhuyan that the apex court-appointed oversight committee has submitted two reports to the top court. According to Bhati, the apex court had appointed an oversight committee, chaired by former top court judge Justice (retired) A K Sikri. Referring to the committee's report given in August, 2024, Bhati said, "Almost 75 per cent of the awarded work is complete." She further said there were two reports -- one in April, 2024 and the other of August 27 -- pertaining to the proposed project. The bench said the ...

Landslide on Kedarnath route: Death toll at 5 after 4 more bodies recovered

Bodies of four more pilgrims were recovered on Tuesday from the debris of a landslide that occurred on Monday evening on the Kedarnath route, taking the toll in the incident to five, officials said. More pilgrims could be trapped under the debris, Rudraprayag Police said on Tuesday. A group of pilgrims returning from a visit to Kedarnath were trapped in the landslide at around 7.20 pm on Monday. SDRF and NDRF personnel had launched a rescue operation immediately and retrieved one body of a pilgrim identified as Gopal (50) from Dhar in Madhya Pradesh besides rescuing three others who were rushed to Sonprayag in an ambulance. The rescue operation had to suspended due to bad weather and boulders still falling from the hillside intermittently on Monday night. As recuse efforts were resumed on Tuesday morning, bodies of four more pilgrims, including three women, were pulled out of the debris The pilgrims were identified as Durgabai Khapar (50) from Ghat district in Madhya Pradesh, Tit

Uttarakhand CM Dhami approves special assistance for disaster-hit Kedarnath

An amount of Rs 9.08 crore has been approved by CM Dhami in the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund

Helicopter crashes in Kedarnath during airlift, no casualty reported

This same helicopter had previously made headlines when it was forced to make an emergency landing near Kedarnath on May 24 due to a technical issue

Proposed construction of Kedarnath temple's replica in Delhi dropped

The proposed construction of a replica of Kedarnath in Delhi which had created a controversy recently has been withdrawn. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had attended the foundation stone laying ceremony of the temple in Burari. "We decided not to construct the temple as some people from Uttarakhand objected to it and we realised that it would hurt religious sentiments," Suman Mittal, president of the Kedarnath Dham Delhi Trust, which was to build the temple in Burari, said in a press release. "We are constructing no temple with that name now," she said. The Trust has also stopped accepting online donations for the construction of the temple through a QR code, she said. The priests of the Himalayan temple located in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district had opposed its construction saying it was one of the 12 'Jyotirlingas' in the country and replicating it anywhere else meant showing disrespect to the centuries old temple. The opposition Congress had taken out a marc

Kedarnath trek route repaired, reopened for pilgrims after 15-day closure

The trek route to Kedarnath which was heavily damaged by landslides triggered by heavy rain on the night of July 31 has been repaired and reopened for pilgrims after a 15-day closure. The 19-km long route which was blocked at 29 places by landslide debris was restored on Friday, officials here said. Around 260 labourers worked day and night to repair and reopen the route for pilgrims, they said. The route has been repaired now except a couple of spots where security personnel are helping the pilgrims cross the road, they added. A series of landslides had occurred along the route after heavy rain lashed the area on July 31 leaving thousands of pilgrims stranded. Aided by the Indian Air Force and private helicopters more than 11,000 pilgrims stranded at places along the route, including Bhimbali and Lincholi, were evacuated to safety by SDRF, NDRF and police personnel during a rescue operation that lasted nearly a week. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami personally monitored the e

Kedarnath helicopter services to resume on Wednesday, Uttarakhand CM says

CM Dhami inspected the rescue operations in the Rudraprayag district affected by heavy rains resulting in landslides in the region

Relief, rescue operations continue for sixth day in Kedarnath valley

Many pilgrims and tourists are stranded on the Sonprayag-Kedarnath road as heavy rains lashed the state

Kedarnath rescue ops continue, 400 people to be airlifted from Lincholi

Over 370 people, including devotees and locals stranded on the rain-ravaged trek route to Kedarnath, have been evacuated and sent to Lincholi to be airlifted as the rescue operation entered its fourth day. Chief Executive Officer of Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee Yogendra Singh said that these 373 people who left from Kedarnath with rescuers, including teams of SDRF and NDRF, for Lyncholi from where they will be airlifted to safer places via helicopter. Meanwhile, 570 passengers are also waiting for the helicopter at Kedarnath helipad. Singh said the district administration, temple committee and Tirtha Purohit Samaj are providing food packets, water bottles and fruits to all the people stranded in Kedarnath. According to officials, 110 pilgrims stranded on the Rambada-Chaumasi track have also been evacuated and taken to Chaumasi. More than 534 pilgrims and locals have been evacuated from this route so far. The trek route to Kedarnath suffered extensive damage as a resul

Operation to rescue Kedarnath pilgrims enters 3rd day; over 10K evacuated

The operation to rescue pilgrims stranded along a rain-ravaged trek route to the Himalayan Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand entered its third day on Sunday. More than 10,500 people have been evacuated, some airlifted by air force helicopters. Officials said around 1,300 pilgrims are stranded in Kedarnath, Bhimbali and Gaurikund, and are safe. Personnel of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and police are engaged in the rescue operation. The Indian Air Force's Chinook and MI17 helicopters airlifted some pilgrims from the area on Friday. Rudraprayag Superintendent of Police (SP) Vishakha Ashok Bhadane dismissed rumours of a large number of people missing following a cloudburst near the trek-route. "Almost all reported individuals have reached home," the official said and appealed to the public not to believe rumours. She said, "Many people may not be able to contact their families due to poor network and bad weather." The pilgrim, w

Uttarakhand rains: 14 dead due to heavy rains, Kedarnath Yatra suspended

Uttarakhand floods: The Centre has deployed two Indian Air Force helicopters - a Chinook and an MI 17 - to assist with rescue operation in the state

Local authorities cautions Kedarnath Dham devotees due to heavy rains

Sub-District Magistrate- Due to heavy rains in the month of Sawan, stones may fall on the travel routes at many places, due to which it is not appropriate to travel from the point of view of safety.

Rajinikanth travelling to Kedarnath to embark on spiritual journey

Rajinikanth is travelling to Dehradun to continue his spiritual journey. Earlier, the actor went to Abu Dhabi's BAPS Hindu Mandir after receiving the golden visa

After campaigning ends, PM Modi to take a meditation break in Kanyakumari

The meditation break will start just after the election campaigning for the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 ends on the evening of May 30

Helicopter carrying six pilgrims loses control in Kedarnath: Watch video

The helicopter flew a couple of metres from the helipad at the Himalayan temple, officials said. It was carrying seven individuals, including six passengers and the pilot

Helicopter carrying pilgrims makes emergency landing in Kedarnath

A helicopter with seven people, including pilgrims, on board made an emergency landing in Uttarakhand's Kedarnath after developing a technical snag early on Friday. The helicopter landed a few metres from the helipad at the Himalayan temple, an official said. It was carrying seven people, including six pilgrims and the pilot. Everyone is safe, he said. Rudraprayag District Magistrate Saurabh Gaharwar said the helicopter took off from the Sirsi helipad for Kedarnath early on Friday. It developed a technical snag in its rear motor, prompting the pilot to make an emergency landing a few metres from the helipad in Kedarnath, he said citing preliminary reports. The pilot kept his cool and took a quick decision, averting a major mishap, Gaharwar said. Everyone is safe and the pilgrims have even returned after having "darshan" at the temple, he added. The incident occurred around 7 am and further investigations are underway, Gaharwar said.

Char Dham Yatra: U'khand govt extends ban on VIP darshan till May 31

Uttarakhand Chief Secretary said that in order to streamline the process of Darshan at the Dhams, state government has started a process of registration for Chardham Yatra

Char Dham Yatra 2024: Govt extends ban on VIP darshan, forbids videography

Uttarakhand's chief secretary issued a letter extending the ban on VIP darshan till May 31 and prohibiting videography within 50 metres of the temple complexes