Uttarakhand: Devotees receive relief as the walking route to Kedarnath has been repaired.
Rudraprayag (Uttarakhand) [India], August 16 : Devotees traveling to Kedarnath can now breathe easier as the walking route has been nearly fully repaired. This improvement has allowed pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Haryana to reach Kedarnath Dham after a 15-day trek, according to the district administration.
The pilgrims have expressed their gratitude for the support provided by the administration. The route was reconstructed through the efforts of 260 laborers.
The walking path was severely damaged on the night of July 31 due to a disaster, which led to the evacuation of pilgrims from the area. Under the supervision of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and District Magistrate Saurabh Gaharwar, a rescue operation saved thousands of devotees and locals, with some being airlifted by helicopter.
The disaster had affected 29 sections of a 19-kilometer walking route. Currently, there are minor issues at one or two locations on the footpath where security personnel are assisting pilgrims.
A pilgrim arriving at Kedarnath Dham commented, "The footpath has been repaired, though there are still some issues at one or two spots. The district administration in Rudraprayag is making good arrangements."
To date, 1,093,632 devotees have visited Baba Kedarnath. Around 150 to 200 pilgrims are arriving daily, with some traveling by helicopter and others on foot.
The Rudraprayag district administration is focused on completing the repair of the footpath to accommodate more devotees. Hundreds of PWD Guptkashi workers are engaged in this effort, and the repair of the Sonprayag-Gaurikund highway is progressing quickly, with vehicle movement expected to resume soon. The NH department is working around the clock on this project.
Earlier today, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami wished the state's residents a happy Ghee Sankranti (Gheu Tyaar), a traditional folk festival. On social media platform X, he remarked, "Folk festivals are a significant part of our rich heritage and tradition," and expressed his hope that the festival brings joy, prosperity, and health to everyone.