Over 10,000 Kedarnath pilgrims rescued after massive landslide at Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand

Devotees are escorted by NDRF, SDRF and local police after heavy rain and landslide during Dham Yatra to Kedarnath Temple in Rudraprayag on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. | Photo credit: ANI

Joint rescue teams have safely evacuated 10,450 pilgrims stranded on the Kedarnath route in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag following a sudden landslide in Munkatiya, officials said on Thursday (May 21, 2026).

According to officials, the landslide occurred between Sonprayag and Gaurikund late on Tuesday (May 19) night following heavy rains in the region. The debris blocked the main road and trapped a large number of pilgrims.

Continuous rock fall, heavy rainfall, darkness and challenging mountainous terrain created a very difficult situation for the stranded travelers.

The District Control Center (DCR) Rudraprayag alerted the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) at 9:16 p.m. A rescue team from Sonprayag immediately rushed to the spot with the necessary equipment.

The SDRF and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) then launched a joint rescue operation.

Joint teams guided 10,450 stranded pilgrims through the affected section. Rescuers motivated the pilgrims in constant rain and low visibility.

The teams moved the evacuated pilgrims to designated safe places.

Officials deployed JCB machines to remove the accumulated debris after rescue operations were completed.

Authorities reopened the highway and resumed normal vehicular movement shortly after.

SDRF Commander Arpan Yaduvanshi said teams deployed along the pilgrimage route were maintaining high vigilance.

Mr. Yaduvanshi added that this pre-deployment enabled quick response and effective coordination.

Workers cleared the debris and the blockade was lifted and the stranded vehicles left the area, the official added.

#WATCH | Sonprayag, Rudraprayag: SDRF Uttarakhand safely evacuates over 10,000 pilgrims amid landslide.

Late at night in May, a sudden landslide hit the Munkatiya area between Sonprayag and Gaurikund on the Shri Kedarnath Yatra route, blocking the main road. Due to… pic.twitter.com/0p0moC9InU

— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2026

Published – 21 May 2026 12:38 IST