Heavy Rain Forces Char Dham Pilgrimage Halt, Shuts Schools Across Uttarakhand

Heavy rain swept through Uttarakhand on Monday, prompting officials to suspend the Char Dham Yatra, a major pilgrimage that draws thousands of devotees to the region's four sacred sites. The inclement weather made mountain roads treacherous, and the state disaster management team ordered an immediate halt to all pilgrim movements for safety reasons.

The Department of Education issued an order to shut all government and private schools across the state until further notice, citing the risk of landslides and flooding. Parents were advised to keep children at home and to avoid travel on vulnerable routes.

State authorities continue to monitor the situation, deploying rescue teams to vulnerable valleys and issuing weather advisories through local media and digital platforms. The suspension will be lifted only after the rainfall eases and road conditions are declared safe.