Rudraprayag: As the portals for Kedarnath shrine are set to open on May 2, incessant snowfall in the region has posed a challenge for the Rudraprayag administration. Many glaciers have formed on the trek route, blocking the path in six places, hindering the preparations for the upcoming Char Dham yatra in the state.
The weather in Kedarnath has taken a drastic turn, resulting in heavy snowfall on February 27th and 28th, followed by light snowfall over the past three days. The weather continued to remain bad on Monday. The entire Kedarnath shrine region, including the Kedarnath temple complex, is now covered with a thick five-foot layer of snow.
16 kilometers long trek buried under the snow
The Gaurikund-Kedarnath walking route, which is 16 kilometers long, is also buried under one to five feet of snow. Huge glaciers have become active at six locations between Rambada and Rudra Point, making it extremely difficult to cross the path. These glaciers are spread near TFT Chatti, Hathani Gadhera, Kuber Gadhera, Bhairav Gadhera, and Rudra Point. More than four feet of snow has accumulated in Choti and Badi Lincholi.
Officials are instructed to remain on alert mode
With the possibility of bad weather in the coming days, snowfall cannot be ruled out. The entire trek route from Gaurikund to Kedarnath is covered with snow, making it challenging for workers engaged in restoration work. An avalanche warning has also been issued for Chamoli district, with officials instructed to remain on alert mode. Workers engaged in reviving the old route from Rambada to Garud Chatti have returned to Sonprayag due to the heavy snowfall.
Impact on Kedarnath yatra
The preparations for the Kedarnath Yatra, scheduled to begin on May 2, have been impacted by the heavy snowfall. According to officials, it is difficult to start the work of clearing the snow in March due to the accumulated snow. In 2024, similar heavy snowfall occurred in Kedarnath during January-February, and the administration began snow removal from the road on February 20. Vinay Jhikwan, executive engineer of the public works department (PWD) in Guptkashi-Kedarnath, stated that if the weather cooperates, the work of removing snow from the path can be started after March 20. The administration is closely monitoring the weather conditions to ensure the safety of travelers and workers.
Hampered the work of reviving old route
The work of reviving the old Rambada-Garud Chatti road has also been halted due to snowfall. Ninety workers involved in this project returned to Sonprayag last week. The snowfall has also rendered it impossible to move beyond Rambada on the footpath as the glaciers have become active. There is up to five feet of snow in the shrine, and the work of reviving the old path has been stopped since the snowfall.
