Dehradun: Officials have announced the lifting of the 24-hour suspension on the Char Dham Yatra, which was put in place due to heavy rainfall and increased landslide risks in Uttarakhand.

Vinay Shankar Pandey, the Garhwal Divisional Commissioner, confirmed, "The ban on the Char Dham Yatra has been lifted."

He emphasized that District Magistrates along the pilgrimage route are to monitor vehicle movement according to the current weather conditions in their areas.

The temporary halt was enacted as a safety measure to safeguard both pilgrims and local residents amid severe weather conditions.

Authorities had previously advised pilgrims to stay put and refrain from traveling to Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri until the weather improved.

This suspension followed a significant cloudburst near Silai on the Barkot-Yamunotri road in Uttarkashi district, which resulted in at least nine road construction workers going missing.

Tragically, two workers lost their lives, and seven remain unaccounted for after the cloudburst struck an under-construction hotel in the Silai area along the Yamunotri National Highway, sweeping away a campsite where 29 workers were sheltering.

While 20 individuals were rescued, nine were reported missing, and the search for the remaining seven continues.

Multiple points along the Yamunotri National Highway were blocked near Silai Band, disrupting travel. Authorities at NH Barkot were notified to address the situation, and debris was subsequently cleared.

In other parts of the state, the National Highway near Nandprayag and Bhaneropani was also obstructed due to debris, while the Sonprayag-Munkatiya road in Rudraprayag, a crucial route for Kedarnath pilgrims, was closed due to landslides.

Heavy rainfall persists across several districts, including Chamoli, Pauri Garhwal, Dehradun, and Rudraprayag.

As river levels rise alarmingly close to their banks, local authorities have issued a new advisory urging residents near riverbanks to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions.