Rudraprayag: Following the cloudburst incident in the Kedar valley on July 31, a group of 300 pilgrims embarked on a journey to Kedarnath on foot from Sonprayag. Notably, this is the first time since the disaster that such a significant number of devotees have undertaken this pilgrimage by foot.
After mules and horse movement, trek was opened for pilgrims
The reconstruction work of the Kedarnath trek route and highway is being carried out on war-footing after the massive damage on 31 July. On Monday, a day after the movement of horses and mules started on the trek route, a group of about 300 pilgrims was sent on foot to Kedarnath from Sonprayag on Tuesday and 180 pilgrims reached the shrine. After the cloudburst incident, only a few pilgrims were going on foot in view of the possible dangers on the route.
Landslide from a hill near Nandprayag on Badrinath Highway
Following the recent landslide near Nandprayag in Chamoli district, the Badrinath highway, which had been closed for approximately 107 hours, reopened. Unfortunately, after just two hours, traffic had to be halted again due to debris. The ongoing efforts to clear the highway continue.
Additionally, in the Kedar Valley disaster, a 150-meter stretch of highway between Sonprayag and Gaurikund was destroyed. To fix this, the national highways team prepared a pedestrian path for movement. Through this route, pedestrian travel and movement of horses and mules between Sonprayag and Gaurikund had also started. Meanwhile, on 19 August, due to a landslide, 50 meters of the road collapsed and the connection between Sonprayag and Kedarnath Dham was cut off again.
Path prepared for pedestrian movement
Now the trek route for movement of pilgrims has been repaired. According to the deputy inspector Yogesh Kumar posted at Sonprayag police station said that after the SDM Ukhimath talked to the pilgrims, on his verbal instructions, the group of pilgrims were allowed to go to Kedarnath. Still, there are some problems persisting on this route, therefore, pilgrims are being sent in a careful way.
