3 killed, 8 injured in landslide on Kedarnath trekking route in Uttarakhand

Rudraprayag, July 21

Three devotees died and eight others got injured in a landslide on the Kedarnath Dham trekking route in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district on Sunday, officials said.

Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said the accident took place at around 7.30 am near Chirbasa area on the Gaurikund-Kedarnath trekking route when the devotees were hit by heavy stones and debris falling down from the hill.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and disaster management teams reached the spot and started a search and rescue operation, he said.

Those killed have been identified as Kishore Arun Parate (31) from Maharashtra’s Nagpur; Sunil Mahadev Kale (24), a resident of Maharashtra’s Jalna district; and Anurag Bisht from Rudraprayag, Rajwar said.

According to SDRF sources, so far the bodies of three devotees had been recovered from the debris, while eight others were rescued in an injured condition and rushed to the hospital.

The rescue operation is still under way, they said.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the loss of lives.

In a post on X, Dhami said, “Relief and rescue work is going on at the site of the accident. I am constantly in touch with the officials in this regard. Instructions have been given to provide treatment to those injured in the accident.”