With the count-down having begun for opening of the ‘char dhams’, things are far from reassuring for the pilgrims who are now gearing up to embark on the pilgrimage. The refrain running here is that the half-done arrangements by the administration might cost the pilgrims dear.
Heavy snowfall that continued in the Gangotri region till recently has compounded the problems for administration and pilgrims. The trek to Gaumukh, scheduled to begin soon, might prove a challenge for the pilgrims as well as administration, said an official who insisted on anonymity.
Things are such that Gangotri National Park employees have not yet been able to conduct a recce of the trek. Earlier, the process of repairing the trek used to begin by March-end. This season, things are uncertain. If the repair works are not started soon the pilgrims from India and abroad might face major problems.
The pilgrims have to trek around 18 kms to ascend Gaumukh. The region being located inside the core zone of Gangotri National Park it is the responsibility of the Park administration to maintain the trek route to facilitate the pilgrimage there. A large number of Indian and foreign pilgrims and adventurers reach here every year.
Presently, things are far from favourable for the trekkers, given the tracks remaining closed due to heavy snowfall till mid-March. Due to the incessant snowfall till recently, it is difficult to even pass the Kankhu barrier at the entrance to the pilgrimage tracks, about 3 kms from Gangotri. It is believed that it would take long to clear the snow blocks at Devgaad, Rishinala, Bhujgadhi and Kacchidang. Besides, the apprehension is there that landslides have damaged the trek at several places.
Under these circumstances, it seems that the opening of the trek to Gangotri shrine on April 21 is fraught with difficulties. Notably, 150 people are allowed on the Gaumukh trek per day due to the environmental conditions,.
However, there is no dearth of enthusiasm among the pilgrims readying to undertake the holy trek. Kotbangla office in Uttarkashi district keeps receiving numerous calls from them and they come from across the country. So far, four trekking groups have registered themselves for the treks in May and June. As the pilgrim season starts, the number is likely to mount. How the administration would cope with the pressure while facilitating a safe trek for them along the hazardous and fragile mountainous tracks remains a question.