Watch | Massive avalanche strikes Gandhi Sarovar near Kedarnath

Nandan Singh Rajwar, the Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer, has assured that the entire Kedarnath valley is safe and there was no loss of life or property due to the avalanche.

The holy shrine of Kedarnath in Uttarakhand has witnessed an unprecedented influx of devotees this year, with over 7 lakh pilgrims visiting the temple in just 28 days since its doors opened on May 10, as stated by the Uttarakhand government earlier this month.

This is the second such incident in the Kedarnath region in the past few weeks, as an earlier avalanche was reported on June 8 near the Gandhi Sarovar. In 2022, three avalanches occurred in the area during the months of September and October. Additionally, five such incidents were reported in the Chorabari glacier in May and June 2023

The temple, situated at an elevation of 3,500 metres in the lap of the majestic Himalayas, has been decked up with flowers and holy leaves to welcome the surging crowds of pilgrims. The Char Dham yatra, which includes the pilgrimage to sites of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, is undertaken despite the harsh climatic conditions of the region with temperatures ranging from 0 to 3 degrees Celsius during the day and dropping below at night, continues unabated.

What is an avalanche?

Avalanches typically occur in mountainous regions with steep slopes and accumulations of snow, such as the Himalayas. They can move at speeds of up to 320 kilometres per hour and exert tremendous force. It can range in size from a small slide of loose snow to a massive flow of snow, ice, rocks, and other debris that can cause significant damage and loss of life.

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