📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / KhushiMavi
Religion
SDRF rescues 9,000 pilgrims after boulders tumble on Kedarnath trek in Uttarakhand
✍️ The New Indian Express
🗓 01 Oct 2026, 04:32 AM
👁 11
A sudden rockfall on the Kedarnath pilgrimage route prompted the State Disaster Response Force to evacuate and treat around 9,000 trekkers, averting a major tragedy.
A sudden avalanche of boulders struck the Kedarnath trekking corridor in Uttarakhand, endangering thousands of pilgrims who were on the sacred ascent to the shrine. The unexpected rockfall blocked sections of the trail and created a high risk of further landslides, prompting immediate alarm among the trekking groups.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) mobilised multiple rescue teams within minutes. Using rope‑lines, stretchers and portable medical kits, the force evacuated roughly 9,000 pilgrims from the danger zone, providing first‑aid and shelter at temporary camps set up along the route. Officials said the operation was carried out without any loss of life, and only minor injuries were reported.
Kedarnath attracts millions of devotees each year, and the incident underscores the vulnerability of high‑altitude pilgrimage routes to sudden geological events. Uttarakhand authorities have pledged to review safety protocols, improve early‑warning systems, and reinforce vulnerable stretches of the trail to prevent similar emergencies in the future.
The swift response by SDRF has been hailed as a testament to the state's disaster‑management capabilities, reinforcing confidence among pilgrims and tourists who rely on such preparedness during the peak season.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) mobilised multiple rescue teams within minutes. Using rope‑lines, stretchers and portable medical kits, the force evacuated roughly 9,000 pilgrims from the danger zone, providing first‑aid and shelter at temporary camps set up along the route. Officials said the operation was carried out without any loss of life, and only minor injuries were reported.
Kedarnath attracts millions of devotees each year, and the incident underscores the vulnerability of high‑altitude pilgrimage routes to sudden geological events. Uttarakhand authorities have pledged to review safety protocols, improve early‑warning systems, and reinforce vulnerable stretches of the trail to prevent similar emergencies in the future.
The swift response by SDRF has been hailed as a testament to the state's disaster‑management capabilities, reinforcing confidence among pilgrims and tourists who rely on such preparedness during the peak season.