A devastating landslide on the Kedarnath National Highway claimed one life and injured five pilgrims. The incident occurred near Kund village, close to Guptkashi in Rudraprayag district.

Rajesh Singh Rawat, a 38-year-old driver from Lambgaon in Tehri Garhwal district, died when falling debris struck his vehicle carrying Chhattisgarh pilgrims to Kedarnath. Officials confirmed the fatality on Friday following immediate rescue operations, reported TOI.

Station Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams and district administration personnel responded swiftly to extract casualties from the damaged vehicle. All victims were transported to Augustmuni Hospital for medical treatment.

The five injured pilgrims, aged between 19 and 25 years, are residents of Durg district in Chhattisgarh. Two passengers sustained severe injuries requiring intensive medical attention, while three others suffered minor wounds.

The incident underscores the vulnerability of the Kedarnath pilgrimage route, which experiences frequent landslides during monsoon seasons and adverse weather conditions. The highway serves as a critical transportation corridor for thousands of devotees visiting the revered Kedarnath temple.

Weather authorities have issued severe warnings for the region. Krishna Mishra,a scientist at the India Meteorological Department (IMD), advised against mountain travel over the weekend due to extreme weather predictions.

“Extreme weather may cause strong winds, rain, and hailstorms in J&K on May 30 and 31; in Himachal on May 31 and June 1; and in Uttarakhand on May 30, 31, and June 1. Travel to these regions should be avoided,” Mishra stated.

The meteorological alert encompasses multiple Himalayan states, indicating widespread atmospheric instability that could trigger additional landslides and rockfalls along vulnerable mountain highways throughout the pilgrimage season.

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