Dehradun, April 29 (IANS): Over 3,000 pilgrims were left stranded on the route leading to Badrinath shrine on Wednesday due to landslides, officials said on Wednesday.

A heavy downpour on Tuesday led to a landslide in Vishnuprayag after which the road to Badrinath was blocked, said senior officials in Joshimath.

Police have also stopped private vehicles of devotees at Govindghat, Joshimath, Pandukeshwar and Badrinath. This has been done to prevent the pilgrims from getting stuck en route to the shrine and to ensure their safety, officials said.

Owing to incessant rain in the region, relief and rescue work had not started till early Wednesday though officials are working overtime to clear the highway and restore traffic.

An official told IANS that as rain was not predicted, when it suddenly started pouring, they (officials) were caught off-guard. He also said that the highway will be cleared as soon as possible.

The Char Dham yatra, an annual pilgrimage that includes Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri has been hit by inclement weather for the past two years.