Tue May 06 13:53:51 UTC 2025: **14 Mules Die on Kedarnath Trek, Prompting Uttarakhand Government to Suspend Mule Services**
**Dehradun, Uttarakhand – May 6, 2025** – The Char Dham Yatra, a major Hindu pilgrimage, has been impacted by the unexpected deaths of 14 mules in the first three days of the Kedarnath trek. This significant increase in mule fatalities, compared to the usual four to five annual deaths, has prompted the Uttarakhand government to take swift action.
Eight mules died on May 3rd and six more on May 4th, leading to the immediate suspension of mule services along the Kedarnath route on May 6th. The government has dispatched an expert team from the ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines in Hisar to investigate the cause of death, with preliminary investigations suggesting a possible link to equine influenza. While 152 animals tested positive for equine influenza in sero-sampling earlier this year, RTPCR tests were negative, leaving the cause of the recent deaths undetermined.
BVRC Purushottam, Secretary of the Animal Husbandry Department, stated that all remaining horses and mules are undergoing thorough health checks. Animals showing any signs of illness, particularly nasal discharge, are being removed from service. Despite the unusual number of deaths, Purushottam assured that the Yatra will continue, emphasizing that the observed symptoms don’t align with typical equine influenza and that the expert team will conduct a thorough analysis.
The suspension of mule services impacts thousands of pilgrims who rely on animal transport for the arduous 18-km trek from Gaurikund to the Kedarnath temple. Over 4,300 horse and mule operators with 8,000 animals are registered for the pilgrimage. The Uttarakhand government assures that it is committed to ensuring the safety of both pilgrims and animals and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
First Piper 