Dehradun, May 8: Thunderstorm and hailstorm alert has been issued across Uttarakhand for the next few hours. The areas which are likely to be affected by the dust storm include Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh districts. Earlier in the day, incessant snowfall since last night has prompted authorities to temporarily halt the yatra to Kedarnath and prevent devotees from moving beyond Linchauli and Bhimbali.

According to a report by PTI, nearly half a dozen Congressmen including former chief minister Harish Rawat, Rajya Sabha MP Pradeep Tamta and local MLA Manoj Rawat were also stranded at the shrine due to continuing snowfall, Rudraprayag District Magistrate Mangesh Ghildiyal. Haridwar and Nainital also received rains with speedy winds on Tuesday morning.

The devotees who have been stranded have been instructed to wait at halts like Bhimbali and Linchauli and avoid travel until the weather conditions improve in the affected area. Reports inform that at present, a layer of snow measuring around two to three inches has accumulated around the Kedarnath shrine presently.

On Monday, two pilgrims were injured as heavy rains accompanied by high-speed winds lashed Chamoli district of the state today blowing away rooftops and uprooting trees. According to a report by PTI, the two pilgrims from Gujarat, who were eating at a roadside eatery, were injured when branches of a tree fell over them under the impact of a squall near Chetrapal village, revenue department official S L Rangad said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 08, 2018 03:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).