A powerful monsoon surge across Uttarakhand has upended the Char Dham pilgrimage season and general tourism just as the July holiday rush began. State authorities placed an orange alert in force after 160 mm-plus rainfall triggered multiple landslides on 2 July, blocking the Badrinath National Highway at Gulabkoti and Sirobagad and stranding buses of pilgrims. Helicopter shuttle services to Kedarnath Temple—used heavily by elderly and time-pressed devotees—are suspended until at least 5 July, and Inner Line Permits for the Adi Kailash–Om Parvat trek have been paused. River rafting in Rishikesh has also been banned as the Ganga runs high. For corporate travel managers the disruption matters because Dehradun-based plants and NGOs depend on road connectivity that is now unreliable. Logistics firms report delays of 24–36 hours for perishables headed to Delhi. Pilgrim tour operators, having just recovered from pandemic dips, face significant cancellation costs. Officials are sending SMS now-casts and advise travellers to avoid non-essential road journeys until weather clears. The disaster management authority has put airport-style control rooms along key highways, but capacity is limited. Companies with incentive trips or CSR volunteer groups booked for July should re-schedule to September or shift to Himachal itineraries, tour consultants suggest.
Source: Moneycontrol
