Two Dead, Three Injured in Landslide on Kedarnath Yatra Route in Uttarakhand

Baby Chakraborty | KalimNews | June 19, 2025 | Kolkata : A tragic incident struck the Kedarnath Yatra route in Uttarakhand on Wednesday, June 18, when a sudden landslide near Jungle Chatti in Rudraprayag district claimed the lives of two pilgrims and left three others injured. The incident occurred at around 11:20 AM, when large rocks and debris fell from the hillside, hitting pilgrims and porters ferrying them along the trekking path.

The deceased have been identified as Nitin Kumar and Chandrashekhar, both from Doda district in Jammu. They were labourers carrying a woman pilgrim on a palanquin—referred to locally as a dandi or kandi—when the landslide hit, causing them to fall into a gorge. State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Commandant Arpan Yaduvanshi confirmed that the woman sustained only minor injuries and was safely rescued, along with others caught in the debris.

Three others sustained serious injuries in the incident. They have been identified as Sandeep Kumar and Nitin Manhas from Doda, and Akash Chitriya from Bhavnagar, Gujarat. All injured individuals were promptly rescued and admitted to a nearby hospital in Gaurikund for treatment.

Upon receiving reports of the landslide, local police stationed at the Jungle Chatti outpost, along with the district disaster management force and the SDRF, reached the site and launched immediate rescue operations. Rudraprayag Superintendent of Police Akshay Prahlad Konde confirmed that those who had fallen into the gorge were safely recovered and that the evacuation of remaining pilgrims was carried out in a secure and organized manner.

The affected area, Jungle Chatti, is known for frequent landslides, especially during the monsoon season. In 2024, a portion of the Gaurikund-Kedarnath trekking route at this same location had been washed away due to heavy rains.

Despite the latest incident, Rudraprayag police confirmed that the trekking route remains open and the Kedarnath Yatra is continuing without disruption. However, an advisory has been issued urging pilgrims to remain cautious while trekking, especially beyond Gaurikund later in the day. Authorities have also advised travellers to monitor weather updates closely, as rainfall is typically reported along the route during afternoon hours.

All safety and rescue measures are being actively enforced, and the administration remains vigilant to ensure the wellbeing of pilgrims undertaking the yatra.