An official order issued yesterday by Deputy Commissioner of Kinnaur, Dr. Amit Kumar Sharma, stated that heavy rains, shooting stones, and dense fog in the region have already led to tragic incidents and loss of lives. To prevent further risks, the Yatra has been cancelled with immediate effect under Section 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, until further orders. Any pilgrim attempting the journey will be escorted back to the base camp, and action will be taken against violators under the Act.He said that with more rain and cloudy weather predicted in the next five to seven days, precautionary steps were necessary to ensure the safety of people.The Yatra, which began on July 15, was scheduled to continue until August 30. The trek starts from Tangling village in Kinnaur and ends at the Kinnaur Kailash peak, at an altitude of 6,050 metres.According to data with the district administration, this year saw the highest number of pilgrims — 7,316 in 24 days. Last year, 7,200 pilgrims undertook the Yatra in 22 days; in 2023, 3,600 pilgrims in 15 days; and in 2022, 3,000 pilgrims in 15 days.
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