Kedarnath: Around 1,500 pilgrims stranded along the Kedarnath trek route were safely evacuated from the landslide-hit Chirbasa area and escorted to Gaurikund, officials said on Monday.

The pilgrims had been stranded late Sunday night after a landslide blocked part of the route near Chirbasa, around 3 km beyond Gaurikund. The area was also witnessing continuous rockfalls from the hillside, making it dangerous for pilgrims to move through the stretch.

After receiving information about the stranded pilgrims, Sonprayag police alerted the rescue agencies. A State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team from Sonprayag, led by Sub-Inspector Ashish Dimri, reached the location and found debris covering the road near the Chirbasa helipad.

Teams from the SDRF, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and District Disaster Response Force (DDRF) then launched a joint operation to move the pilgrims through the affected section.

Rescue personnel carefully guided the pilgrims across the landslide zone, helping them reach the other side safely. The pilgrims were then escorted onward to Gaurikund, according to the SDRF.

The rescue operation came amid continued disruption to the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand. The pilgrimage remained suspended for the second consecutive day on Sunday because of incessant heavy rain, officials said.

The landslide and falling rocks had made movement along the Kedarnath trek route particularly hazardous, prompting the joint teams to focus on safely moving the stranded pilgrims away from the affected stretch.

With PTI inputs