The dead were identified as Nitin Kumar and Chandrashekhar — both of whom were palanquin carriers from Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir, they said. The injured were identified as Sandeep Kumar and Nitin Manhas, both palanquin carriers from Doda in Jammu and Kashmir and one pilgrim named Akash Chitriya from Bhavnagar in Gujarat, the police said.
The landslide occurred at 11.20 am near Junglechatti Ghat along the route, with boulders rolling down the hillside and hitting pilgrims, palanquins and porter operators, Rudraprayag Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshay Prahlad Konde said.
They fell into a gorge after being hit by the rubble of the landslide. Police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel rushed to the spot and launched a search and rescue operation, the SP said.
The movement of pilgrims along the route continues under police protection, Konde said.
