As Wednesday dawned over Uttarkashi, hopes of locating two missing pilgrims faded further, days after a deadly landslide struck five devotees returning from Yamunotri near Kainchi Bhairav Mandir, killing two and injuring one.
The incident, triggered on Monday by heavy monsoon rains that have wreaked havoc across Uttarakhand, occurred at “Point 9” on the pedestrian route to the shrine, not far from Jankichatti. The trek route remained suspended on Tuesday as rescue personnel battled debris and treacherous terrain to search for the missing.
The deceased were identified as Harishankar (47), a resident of Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh, and his eight-year-old daughter Khyati. Both bodies were recovered from beneath the rubble. Another pilgrim, Rasik from Maharashtra, was rescued in a severely injured condition and is receiving treatment at a public health centre in Jankichatti. His condition has been declared stable.
Still unaccounted for are Bhavika Sharma, 11, from Delhi, and Kamlesh Jethwa, 35, from Mumbai. The search for them continued throughout Tuesday, with teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the local police working in tandem.
“We have kept the yatra on hold during the day as you can see the spot is sensitive. Once the rubble is cleared, we hope to open the yatra on Wednesday,” said Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya. He added, “Search by the SDRF, NDRF and police personnel for the two missing pilgrims continues.”
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According to authorities, the group of pilgrims had been returning from Yamunotri when they were struck by boulders dislodged by the landslide and thrown into a gorge.
The impact caused significant damage to the road and railing along the route. Consequently, district officials have halted pilgrim movement towards Yamunotri Dham from multiple points between Damta and Jankichatti, including Naugaon, Barkot, Dobata, Gangani, Kharadi, Paligad, Syalna, and Rana Chatti.
Officials have assured that the Yamunotri route will be reopened for pedestrian travel by Wednesday once clearance and safety measures are complete. “The Yamunotri pedestrian route will be made operational on Wednesday for safe travel and the pilgrims will be sent from Janki Chatti to Shri Yamunotri Dham,” said the DM.
Landslides during monsoon are a recurring hazard in the Himalayan state, often jeopardising both pilgrimage and local life. This latest tragedy adds to growing calls for strengthened preventive infrastructure and real-time monitoring systems in vulnerable zones.
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