Landslide halts 4th batch of Kailash pilgrims on Dharchula-Lipulekh route

Pithoragarh: The fourth batch of pilgrims undertaking the Kailash Mansoravar yatra has been stranded in Dharchula after a landslide blocked the Dharchula-Lipulekh road at Gasku and Malghat, a key route for the pilgrimage."The group, comprising 48 yatris, including 14 women, had begun its journey from Delhi on Monday and reached Dharchula on Tuesday," said DS Bisht, manager of Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) guest house in Dharchula, where the pilgrims are currently lodged. "The pilgrims will proceed only after the route is cleared for vehicular movement," he said.District magistrate Vinod Kumar Goswami said teams from Border Roads Organisation (BRO) are trying to clear the road at war footing and pilgrims will be able to resume their journey as soon as the road is cleared.Meanwhile, heavy rainfall has triggered widespread disruption and blocked over 20 roads across the district. The Delhi Band stretch of Pithoragarh-Tanakpur highway was blocked for nearly four hours on Wednesday, severely affecting traffic movement. The Thal-Munsiyari Road, Munsyari-Milam Road and several roads in villages across the district have been closed, the disaster control room informed.Additionally, water levels in the Kali river at Dharchula and Ramganga river at Thal have risen above warning marks, prompting authorities to maintain heightened alert and advising people to stay away from rivers. The Berinag town was reported to have received a maximum of 78 mm rain in the last 24 hours.