Pilgrims outside the Kedarnath Temple after it reopened last week
Yatra to Kedarnath was halted on Sunday following fresh snowfall at the famous Himalayan shrine and adjoining areas which bore the brunt of last year's calamity.
"The entire Kedar valley received fresh snowfall since early this morning bringing the pilgrimage to a halt," Rudraprayag Superintendent of Police Barinderjit Singh said.
The devotees have been asked to stay in Sonprayag and wait for the weather to clear up when the pilgrimage may be resumed, he said.
Yatra to Kedarnath had begun on May 4 after its portals were reopened for devotees following a six-month winter break when the area remains snowbound.
Renowned Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj, who was scheduled to perform live at the high altitude shrine today, is still in Dehradun as his chopper could not take off for Kedarnath due to low visibility in the city and snowfall in the hills, Tourism Secretary Umakant Panwar said.
The maestro may perform at the shrine on Monday if the weather permits, he said.
However, that seems unlikely with the Metrorological office in Dehradun predicting moderate thundershowers on the Char Dham (Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri and Kedarnath) route and snowfall at places located above 3500 metres for the next three days.
Moderate thundershowers, isolated hailstorms and squalls coupled with snowfall in the higher reaches especially at places beyond 3500 metres are likely to continue till May 13, MeT office Director Anand Sharma said.
The Himalayan shrine was marred by unprecedented flash floods last year causing large-scale loss of lives and property. Over 5,000 people, including pilgrims from various parts of the country, had died in the floods.
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat said the yatra might resume tomorrow if the snowfall stops.
"The administration has stopped the visitors from going further from Gaurikund due to bad weather just for today. They will be allowed to travel again if the snowfall stops tomorrow," Mr Rawat said.
Most of the visitors who had gone to visit the temple yesterday have come down while around 200-250 persons have been stopped at Limchauli, around four km away from Kedarnath, Kedarnath Deputy District Magistrate Uttam Singh Chauhan said.