By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
The Kedarnath pilgrimage in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district resumed on Tuesday, three days after it was suspended following landslides Chirwasa route to the Himalayan shrine. Helicopter services to Kedarnath, suspended during the monsoon, also resumed on Tuesday, officials said.
The pilgrimage was halted on Sunday after boulders and debris fell near the Chirwasa helipad on the Gaurikund-Kedarnath trek route, damaging the pathway.
Before the route was reopened, 7,350 pilgrims returning after visiting the Kedarnath temple were safely evacuated from the landslide-affected stretch under the supervision of rescue teams.
According to an official report, 150 pilgrims were evacuated from Chirbasa on Tuesday morning. This followed the safe passage of 7,200 pilgrims and 1,200 mules through the affected stretch under the supervision of SDRF personnel.
Police said debris and boulders accumulated near the trek route close to the Chirbasa helipad, about 2.5 km from Gaurikund, were cleared on a war footing. The route was reopened for pilgrims in the afternoon, allowing the pilgrimage to resume after a three-day suspension.
Meanwhile, helicopter services to Kedarnath also resumed on Tuesday after being suspended for the monsoon season from June 15.
Officials said helicopter services for pilgrims were now available from eight helipads between Guptkashi and Sonprayag. Before resuming operations, teams from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) inspected the helipads and related arrangements and permitted flights after finding them compliant with prescribed safety standards.
The district administration has directed helicopter operators to give priority to the safety and convenience of passengers and ensure safe and orderly operations.