Dehradun: Reconstruction work in Kedarnath has come to a halt as more than one foot of snow accumulated in the region. The heavy snowfall, which began on Tuesday morning and continued until late evening, has caused significant disruptions in the shrine. Approximately 8 inches of new snow has accumulated, leading to the return of over 20 workers from the shrine.
After snowfall on Monday, the maximum temperature in Kedarnath was recorded at -8°C, with the minimum plummeting to -13°C. Despite the cold, around 200 laborers continue to work on repairing the Kedarnath trek route. The heavy snowfall has significantly impacted the master plan work at Badrinath Dham, which was interrupted by the snow.
Cold wave grips the plains
The sudden change in weather before Christmas and New Year has intensified the cold across Uttarakhand. The plains are experiencing a cold wave due to snowfall and rain in the mountainous districts. The higher altitude regions of Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, and Tehri experienced heavy snowfall, while Dehradun’s Chakrata and Mussoorie saw their second snowfall of the season on last Monday.
Stunning snowy landscapes
The snowfall has turned the mountain valleys of Auli and Mussoorie into a pristine white winter wonderland, creating breathtaking views that have captivated both residents and visitors. In Chamoli, snowfall was recorded in Badrinath Dham, Hemkund Sahib, Rudranath, Valley of Flowers, and other areas. The minimum temperature in Badrinath was -8°C, while Niti Valley saw temperatures drop to -11°C. Snowfall also covered the Himalayan Mountain ranges, including Kedarnath, Vasukital, Chorabari, and Dudh Ganga.
Tourist spots also wrapped in snow
The tourist towns of Dhanolti, Kanatal, Surkanda, Buranshkhanda, and Nagtibba in Tehri district also witnessed snowfall on Monday afternoon, though it did not last long. The maximum temperature in Tehri was recorded at 9°C, with a minimum of 1°C. The scenic Harshil Valley, Kedarkantha, and other areas in the Gangotri-Yamunotri region are now blanketed in snow, attracting tourists keen to experience the magical winter.
Uttarakhand witnessed heavy footfall of tourist on Christmas
On the occasion of Christmas, a large number of tourists reached the famous tourist spots in Uttarakhand like Mussoorie, Nainital, Mukteshwar, Auli and Lansdowne. Only lake city Nainital saw more than 5000 tourists reaching here to celebrate Christmas. Additional Secretary C. Ravishankar said that travelers coming for winter travel can also enjoy the scenic snowfall alongside their pilgrimage during winter Char Dham yatra.
