Mussoorie, June 1 -- Char Dham Yatra is witnessing an unprecedented influx of pilgrims this year, with the cumulative footfall crossing 2.6 million, even as the Kedarnath Yatra was briefly suspended on Sunday due to rainfall and an orange alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The temporary suspension was ordered as a precautionary measure following adverse weather conditions in the Kedarnath region. Officials said the pilgrimage resumed later in the day after rainfall subsided and weather conditions improved. Acting on directions issued by the Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swaroop, authorities halted the movement of pilgrims towards Kedarnath on Sunday morning, prioritising the safety of devotees undertaking the pilgrimage in the high-altitude Himalayan region. Nandan Singh Rajwar, District Disaster Management Officer, Rudraprayag, said the Kedarnath Yatra was suspended at 9.45 am due to continuous rainfall and the weather department's orange alert. "With improvement in weather conditions and the cessation of rainfall, the temporary suspension was lifted at around 1 pm. Pilgrims stranded at various points along the route were accommodated safely and later allowed to continue their journey," said Rajwar. Following the suspension, pilgrims trekking towards Kedarnath were shifted to shelters and designated safety zones. Authorities also temporarily halted traffic moving towards Kedarnath from Srinagar and parked vehicles at secure locations to prevent accidents on vulnerable mountain roads. Police and district administration personnel intercepted around 100 light and heavy passenger vehicles near Srinagar and diverted them to safe holding areas, including the NIT Ground. Personnel from the local police and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) remained deployed to assist pilgrims and maintain order. The administration also issued advisories from Rishikesh urging pilgrims planning to travel towards Kedarnath to postpone their journey until weather conditions stabilised. Officials appealed to people not to pay attention to rumours and assured that the administration was monitoring the situation round the clock. Despite intermittent weather disruptions, the pilgrimage season has recorded one of the highest footfalls in recent years. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), a total of 26,91,574 pilgrims had visited the Char Dham shrines till Sunday morning, while more than 0.251 million devotees were registered for the pilgrimage till Saturday evening. On May 30 alone, officials recorded 80,241 pilgrims and 6,650 vehicles travelling on various yatra routes. Kedarnath Dham has emerged as the most visited shrine this season. The temple has received more than 1.018 million pilgrims within 40 days of opening its portals. On May 30 alone, 24,066 devotees offered prayers at the shrine. Officials said more than 18,000 pilgrims had visited Kedarnath by 5 pm on Sunday despite the temporary suspension. Asha Nautiyal, MLA, Kedarnath, said the unprecedented turnout reflected the deep faith of devotees in Baba Kedarnath. "The continuous rise in the number of pilgrims is a testimony to the faith of devotees from across the country and abroad. Reconstruction and infrastructure development works undertaken in recent years have enhanced facilities for pilgrims while preserving the sanctity of the shrine," she said. Nautiyal added that the increasing footfall would provide a major boost to the local economy, tourism-related businesses and employment opportunities in the region. However, several pilgrims reported difficulties due to overcrowding on the route. Videos shared on social media showed long queues of pilgrims, ponies and mules on the trekking path leading to Kedarnath. Anamika Dikshit, a pilgrim from Lucknow who recently completed the yatra, said the heavy rush between Sonprayag and Kedarnath made the journey challenging. "The unprecedented rush of pilgrims and the movement of horses and mules on the same route made the trek difficult," she said. Other shrines of Char Dham have also recorded impressive numbers this season. Badrinath Dham, which opened on April 23, has welcomed 7,51,283 pilgrims, while 93,583 vehicles have reached the shrine. Gangotri Dham has received 4,58,334 pilgrims and 45,302 vehicles since its opening on April 19, while Yamunotri has recorded 4,47,164 pilgrims and 42,840 vehicles. Shri Hemkund Sahib has also witnessed a steady influx, receiving 30,220 devotees since opening its portals. The rush has also severely strained traffic management along the pilgrimage routes. Long traffic jams have become common, particularly on the Joshimath-Badrinath highway, where authorities have reintroduced the gate system to regulate traffic on narrow stretches. Avinash Singh, a pilgrim from Noida, said he was stranded for more than an hour near Vishnuprayag due to traffic restrictions. CS Vashisht, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Joshimath, said the gate system had become necessary due to the unprecedented volume of traffic. While, Atul Sati, a social activist from Jyotirmath, said authorities should focus on improving infrastructure, traffic management and waste disposal systems alongside promoting higher pilgrim numbers....