Dehra Dun: The 'Badrinath Yatra' was today(July 6, 2004) suspended for 20 days after a long stretch of Govindghat- Badrinath highway was washed away due to landslides and floods triggered by a cloudburst in Uttaranchal's Chamoli district leaving nearly 5000 pilgrims stranded.

State Chief Secretary Dr R S Tolia said about 5,000 pilgrims were stranded in Badrinath shrine area as a long stretch of the highway was washed away due to landslides and floods triggered by a cloudburst in Lambagad area last night.

"On the advice of the Border Road Organisation, we are suspending Badrinath Yatra for 20 days," he told in Dehra Dun.

No loss of life or property was reported from the area where the 300 MW Vishnuprayag hydel project was located, Tolia said. There was no damage to the project.

Steps were being taken to evacuate the stranded pilgrims from the shrine area, the Chief Secretary said, adding all pilgrims proceeding towards Badrinath shrine were being told to return home.

However, the Yatra to other centres like 'Hemkund Sahib' and Kedarnath would continue, he added.