The Uttarakhand government has temporarily suspended the Chardham Yatra after relentless rainfall triggered landslides and dangerous road conditions across the state, raising concerns about the safety of one of India's biggest annual pilgrimages.

The precautionary halt comes after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued red and orange alerts for heavy rainfall in several districts. Authorities have stopped the movement of pilgrims towards Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri until weather conditions improve and the routes are declared safe.

Officials said the decision was taken solely to protect pilgrims as continuous rain has made several stretches of the Himalayan routes vulnerable to landslides and road blockages. District administrations have been instructed not to allow any onward travel and to accommodate pilgrims already on the route at designated safe locations.

The Garhwal Commissioner has also directed officials to carry out safety inspections before reopening the pilgrimage. Authorities are monitoring weather forecasts and road conditions, with the Yatra expected to resume only after experts confirm that travel is safe.

Heavy rainfall has also caused water levels in the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers to rise sharply, nearing warning levels in parts of Rudraprayag district. Ghats developed under the Namami Gange project have reportedly been submerged, while emergency teams remain on high alert to respond to any rain-related incidents.

Despite repeated weather-related disruptions this season, the Chardham Yatra has continued to witness record participation. According to the Uttarakhand Tourism Department, more than 4.48 million devotees had visited the Chardham shrines and Hemkund Sahib by Sunday evening. Badrinath recorded over 1.52 million visitors, followed by Kedarnath with 1.40 million, Gangotri with nearly 699,000, Yamunotri with over 646,000, while more than 207,000 pilgrims visited Hemkund Sahib.