Landslides stall Badrinath Yatra

GOPESHWAR (U'KHAND): The annual Badrinath Yatra was stalled today after landslides triggered by rains blocked the Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway at Chamoli district.

The road between Joshimath and Govindghat was blocked by big boulders, due to landslides caused by rains yesterday, Chamoli's Disaster Management official Nand Kishore Joshi said.

Following the incident, almost 3,000 pilgrims have been stranded at Joshimath and Govindghat, he said.

Efforts are on to remove the boulders, Joshi said and hoped that the highway would reopen soon even though continuous falling of rocks is hampering the efforts.

The pilgrimage to Badrinath, one of the four shrines of the annual Char Dham Yatra began on April 26.