Weekly weather updates now on Chardham yatra

, Jun 27: The Met department has come out with weekly weather updates on the Chardham yatra in

where hundreds of pilgrims and locals died in the flash floods last year.

The Indian Meteorological Department forecasts "generally cloudy sky with light to moderate rain/thundershowers" with "nil" warning for yatras to Gangotri, Yamunotri, Hemkund Sahib, Badrinath and Kedarnath shrines in the hill state from June 27 to July 3. It has also come out with forecasts for helicopters to give information on whether the weather is flying-worthy or not.

The Met department had received a flak after the Uttarakhand disaster last year. Although it had warned the state authorities about heavy rains, the message did not reach the way it should have. So, this time it has come up with weekly updates and has also put it on its websites.

Similarly, it has come up with weekly weather forecast for Amarnath Yatra, which began today, with separate updates on Jammu and Kashmir divisions. In both divisions, the department has given "nil" warning from June 27 to July 3. The first batch comprising 1,160 Amarnath yatris left from Jammu base camp to the holy cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.

PTI