Latest weather update for Char Dham Yatra

According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, weather in Uttarakhand will continue to remain cloudy and rainy for the next two days. A weather alert issued at 10:01 hrs by Skymet on Tuesday said that moderate rain and thundershowers are likely at some places in Uttarakhand with strong average winds of 30 kmph gusting at 50 kmph during the next 4 to 10 hours.

Several places in the state witnessed precipitation in the last 24 hours with capital Dehradun recording 7.5 mm of rain, Haridwar 10 mm, Mukteshwar 10.2 mm and Joshimath 14 mm. Due to snowfall in Shrine area in Kedarnath, the yatra has been suspended till May 16.

"Yatra to Kedarnath has been suspended till May 16. Snowfall continues in the shrine area and lower Kedar Valley is being lashed by showers," Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee CEO V D Singh told PTI. He further said that Yatra to Badrinath had also been temporarily halted as Nar Narayan Parbat in whose lap the temple is located received fresh snowfall last (Monday) evening.

Singh said that while devotees going to the eighth century shrine of Kedarnath have been stopped at Sonprayag and Linchauli about 4 kms away from the temple, those heading for Badrinath have been asked not to go beyond Joshimath till the weather improves.

Looking at the weather forecast, the chopper services that had been tentatively scheduled to be launched between Linchauli and Kedarnath on 12^th May will now begin on 17^th May. The state is likely to remain under the influence of a Western Disturbance during next two days.