The Kedarnath Yatra resumed in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, on Tuesday, 28 July after intermittent overnight showers subsided in the morning, allowing pilgrims to visit the revered Himalayan shrine. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has, however, issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall later in the day, keeping district authorities on high alert.

Conditions at the Shrine

Weather at the Kedarnath shrine was reported to be normal through the morning hours, enabling devotees to offer prayers and pay obeisance to Lord Kedarnath without interruption. The brief respite came after a night of persistent showers across the Rudraprayag region.

Despite the temporary improvement, the district administration has urged pilgrims and local residents to exercise caution, warning that heavy rainfall remains likely through the day. Authorities have appealed to all visitors to follow official advisories and avoid travel to vulnerable areas during adverse weather.

Schools Shut, Precautions in Place

As a precautionary measure, the Rudraprayag district administration declared a holiday on 28 July for all government and private schools from Classes 1 to 12, along with Anganwadi centres, citing the threat of intense rainfall. Officials said the decision was taken to safeguard students and staff.

Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra confirmed that the Yatra is proceeding smoothly under administrative supervision. He noted that the pilgrimage had been briefly suspended over the preceding two days following heavy rain alerts, during which pilgrims were held at safe locations as a precaution. Movement resumed in a phased and regulated manner once conditions improved.

Pilgrimage Numbers and Continuity

Despite persistent rain and low temperatures in the high-altitude Himalayan terrain, the annual Kedarnath Yatra has continued largely uninterrupted. According to official figures, more than 14,14,590 devotees — over 1.41 million — have visited the shrine so far this season, reflecting strong pilgrim turnout even amid challenging weather.

This comes amid a broader pattern: earlier on Saturday, both the Kedarnath and Badrinath shrines were enveloped in dense fog, with continuous rainfall causing a sharp drop in temperatures across pilgrimage sites. The Char Dham Yatra, of which Kedarnath is a key part, continued uninterrupted through that period as well.

What Pilgrims Should Know

Authorities have advised all pilgrims to remain updated on weather bulletins and cooperate with officials at checkpoints. The district administration has reiterated that movement will be regulated or suspended if conditions deteriorate, and pilgrims should not proceed without official clearance in orange or red alert zones.

With the monsoon season at its peak and the IMD orange alert still active, the situation in Rudraprayag remains fluid, and further advisories are expected through the day.