Former Uttarakhand CM and other Congress leaders stranded at Kedarnath due to heavy snowfall

Former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat, along with half a dozen Congress leaders including Rajya Sabha MP Pradeep Tamta and local MLA Manoj Rawat, were stuck at Kedarnath shrine on Tuesday due to incessant snowfall.

Incessant snowfall since last night has prompted authorities to temporarily halt the yatra to Kedarnath and prevent devotees from moving beyond Linchauli and Bhimbali.

Rudraprayag District Magistrate Mangesh Ghildiyal has confirmed to PTI that Rawat and other leaders were stranded due to the snowfall.

Pilgrims have been asked to wait at yatra halts like Bhimbali and Linchauli till the weather improves, the DM added.

Accompanied by supporters, Harish Rawat began his trek to the shrine on Sunday to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva and to test what he termed as the truth of BJP's claims over reconstruction work carried out at Kedarpuri, the township around the temple, reported PTI.

The leaders are stranded as a helicopter cannot be sent due to weather conditions.

OneIndia News with PTI inputs