Rudrapur, Sept. 16 -- Nearly 350 pilgrims bound for Adi Kailash and Om Parvat have been stranded in Dharchula, Pithoragarh district, after the administration suspended issuance of permits in view of a yellow alert for heavy rain in the state. Pithoragarh district magistrate Vinod Goswami said the precautionary step was necessary given the risks of landslides and falling boulders on the pilgrimage route. "The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert of heavy rain till September 17. We are not issuing permits to pilgrims in view of their safety. A decision on resuming permits will be taken once the alert period is over," he said. The Adi Kailash yatra usually resumes after the monsoon on September 15, but this year heavy rainfall has continued, triggering frequent landslides. Pilgrims cannot proceed without permits, and hundreds who have already reached Dharchula are waiting for clearance. Local activist Rakesh Tiwari supported the administration's decision, pointing out the vulnerability of the route. "If the administration issues permits in such unfavourable weather, it will not only endanger pilgrims but also pose major challenges for the authorities. Many visitors come after seeing advertisements and websites of tour operators, but safety must come first," he said. According to officials, 23,532 pilgrims from across the country have visited Adi Kailash since May 30. The remote pilgrimage spot, once little known, has witnessed a surge in footfall since Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers there on October 12, 2023....