Man killed by falling boulders near Cheerbasa Helipad as Kedarnath Yatra suspended temporarily

On Sunday, September 13, 2026, a man died after boulders rolled down a hill near Cheerbasa Helipad in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand, as officials had already halted the pilgrimage because of inclement weather. The State Emergency Operation Centre confirmed the fatality and police identified the victim as Madan Mohan Tiwari, 65, from Ukhimath.

The Kedarnath route remains blocked by debris, and the authorities have instructed pilgrims heading toward the shrine to stop at Sonprayag and Gaurikund, while those returning are to halt at Jangalchatti. The suspension was enacted following heavy rainfall that triggered landslides across the region, prompting the emergency operation centre to issue travel advisories and to keep the trail closed until clearance is achieved.

Kedarnath attracts thousands of devotees each year, and the temporary closure disrupts both religious tourism and local economies that depend on pilgrim traffic. Families of the deceased and other travelers have been urged to cooperate with rescue teams, and officials warned that further movement along the mountain path will only resume after safety inspections and official permission are granted.