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Fresh landslide blocks the Adi Kailash route, halting more than 350 pilgrims at Dharchula. (Img: X)
Dharchula: More than 350 pilgrims travelling to the revered Adi Kailash shrine were stopped at this town in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district after a fresh landslide blocked the road leading towards Gunji, officials said on Friday.
The landslide occurred at Mangti Nala during the night, disrupting movement along the high-altitude pilgrimage corridor. With the route rendered inaccessible, pilgrims were asked to remain at the Dharchula base camp until road connectivity is restored.
According to Dhan Singh Bisht, in-charge of the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) base camp at Dharchula, road conditions had improved shortly before the latest disruption. The Border Roads Organisation had cleared snow from the stretch between Kuti and Jolingkong two days earlier, enabling vehicles to reach areas close to the Adi Kailash temple.
The improvement had allowed groups of pilgrims to undertake the journey and have darshan of the sacred peak from near Jolingkong. However, an approximately eight-kilometre portion of the route continued to remain under heavy snow, posing additional challenges for movement in the region.
The latest landslide has once again affected the pilgrimage schedule, with authorities monitoring the road conditions before allowing pilgrims to proceed further. Officials said the enthusiasm among devotees remained undiminished despite the difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions.
The administration has also resumed the process of issuing mandatory inner-line permits for the pilgrimage route. The permit system is required for movement in the strategically sensitive border areas of Pithoragarh.
The disruption comes as the southwest monsoon is expected to withdraw from Uttarakhand within the next 24 hours. The India Meteorological Department’s Dehradun office has indicated that weather conditions across the state are becoming favourable for the monsoon’s retreat, following its withdrawal from parts of northwest India.
Authorities and road agencies are expected to assess the affected stretch and undertake clearance operations before permitting the stranded pilgrims to resume their journey towards Gunji and the Adi Kailash region.
The Adi Kailash pilgrimage takes devotees through some of Uttarakhand’s most remote and difficult Himalayan terrain. Road accessibility remains particularly vulnerable to landslides and snowfall, making weather and road conditions crucial factors in regulating pilgrim movement.
