Himachal rains: Kinnaur Kailash Yatra suspended after cloudburst and landslides in Himachal; over 400 pilgrims rescued
PTC Web Desk: The Kinnaur Kailash Yatra in Himachal Pradesh has been suspended until further notice after heavy rainfall triggered landslides and washed away temporary bridges, leaving over 400 pilgrims stranded along the trekking route. Officials confirmed on Wednesday that the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) successfully rescued 413 devotees, who were left stranded near Tanglippi and Kangrang due to the swollen rivers.
Videos shared by the ITBP on platform X (formerly Twitter) showcased dramatic rescue operations, with stranded pilgrims being pulled across riverbanks using ziplines. District authorities in Kinnaur received alerts about the trapped pilgrims and swiftly coordinated with ITBP and NDRF to launch the rescue mission.
Following severe infrastructural damage to trekking paths due to intense rainfall, the Kinnaur district administration ordered the temporary suspension of the yatra, citing safety concerns. According to the official notice, the trekking routes have either become critically slippery or have been destabilised by landslides.
"In view of these adverse conditions, the Kinnaur Kailash Yatra is hereby suspended temporarily until further orders," the statement read.
The rescued pilgrims have been given shelter at Milang Khata and Gufa, with authorities ensuring all essential arrangements for their safety and well-being.
The Kinnaur Kailash peak, considered the winter abode of Lord Shiva, is situated at an altitude of 19,850 feet. The annual pilgrimage, which began on July 15, was scheduled to conclude on August 30.
Heavy rainfall cripples Himachal, 617 roads shut
The ongoing monsoon fury has not only disrupted religious travel but has also affected daily life across the state. A total of 617 roads, including four National Highways, have been closed due to landslides, flash floods, and road blockages.
According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), the Mandi district has been the worst hit, with 377 roads closed, followed by Kullu with 90 road blockages. The severely affected highways include:
Chandigarh-Manali NH 21
Old Hindustan-Tibet Road NH 05
Mandi-Dharampur NH 3
Aut-Sainj Road NH 305
However, the Shimla-Kalka National Highway, which was closed near Chakki Mor in Solan, has been reopened for vehicular movement.
Educational institutions shut across several districts
In light of the hazardous conditions, several schools, colleges, and anganwadi centres have been shut down in the following sub-divisions
Shimla district: Sunni, Kumarsain, Chopal, Dodra Kwar, Jubbal, Theog, and Rampur
Mandi district: Karsog and Sundernagar
Kullu district: Nirmand
Solan district: Selected sub-divisions
Schools in parts of Shimla city have either announced holidays or shifted to online classes.
Water supply disrupted in Shimla
Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Ltd (SJPNL) has issued an alert regarding possible disruption in water supply over the next 2–3 days due to high turbidity at the source caused by heavy rain.
The authorities have urged the public and tourists to exercise extreme caution and avoid non-essential travel in the hills until weather conditions stabilise.
- With inputs from agencies
