Rudraprayag, September 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A five-year-old boy died after being struck by a falling rock near Chirbasa on the Kedarnath trekking route in Uttarakhand, while rescue teams have evacuated around 1,000 pilgrims from the affected stretch, officials said on Monday.
The deceased was identified as Yash, son of Rohtash Yadav, a resident of Etah in Uttar Pradesh. According to the District Disaster Management Office, police received information about a sudden rockfall from a hillside near Chirbasa. The boy was hit by the falling stone and died at the spot.
A rescue team subsequently transported the child’s body by palanquin to the MRP Bhairav Temple in Junglechatti.
The rockfall also left the trekking route blocked by debris and boulders. Rescue personnel have been working continuously to clear the affected area and move pilgrims towards safer locations.
Officials said the route remained blocked from late Sunday evening into the night and that around 1,000 pilgrims had been rescued so far, while some remained stranded on the route. The Chirbasa stretch continues to pose a risk because of the possibility of further intermittent rockfalls.
The Char Dham Yatra was suspended for the second consecutive day on September 27 amid incessant heavy rainfall across Uttarakhand. Consequently, only a limited number of pilgrims travelling towards Gaurikund were using the affected route, with rescue teams monitoring and assisting their movement.
Rafting activities on the Ganga near Rishikesh were also suspended after heavy rain caused the river’s water level to rise rapidly.
The India Meteorological Department had issued a red alert for Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Champawat, Nainital and Pauri districts, warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall.
Heavy rain has affected several parts of Uttarakhand since Saturday, while snowfall in higher-altitude areas has brought a sharp fall in temperatures. Dehradun recorded a maximum temperature of 21.1 degrees Celsius on Sunday, around nine degrees below normal, while the minimum was 18.2 degrees Celsius.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed officials to remain on round-the-clock high alert and prioritise the safety of residents and pilgrims amid the adverse weather conditions.
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