The first spell of monsoon in Uttarakhand has caused considerable damage to roads and hampered the pilgrimage to Badrinath and Kedarnath shrines apart from the lakshman temple and the Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara. While hundreds of pilgrims were airlifted from Badrinath and Kedarnath, about 3,000 visitors are still stranded at Badrinath.
Following rains, a 100 metre stretch of the National Highway 58 from Rishikesh to Badrinath has been washed away at Hanumanchatti-lambagad. The bridle path to lakshman temple-Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara is also closed after the pedestrian bridge near Bhyundar was swept away by the waters of the lakshman Ganga. The impact of the heavy rain in the mountainous regions during the past couple of days has refreshed the memories of the 2013 disaster among many of the locals. The rain since Thursday morning has caused blockages on the NH 58 to Badrinath at various spots. Also, the heavy rain has caused a rise in the water level in the Alaknanda river which in turn has swept away three shops at lambagad. Following the road blockage, the State administration has advised tourists and pilgrims to remain in safe locations till the routes are reopened for traffic.
The NH 85 has been blocked at Hathiparvat near Marwadi with a 30 metre stretch of the road being washed away by the Alaknanda. About 100 metre stretch of this Highway was been swept away at lambagad. After the bridge on the bridle path to lakshman temple-Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara was swept away by the lakshman Ganga near Bhyundar, the army has started work on erecting a temporary bridge. Efforts have also been started to resume traffic on the NH 58 to Badrinath. The blockage on this national highway near Balduda has been cleared along with blockages at Kanchanganga and Radang Bend.
According to information received from the State Emergency Operation Centre, the number of stranded pilgrims as on Friday evening includes 3,000 in Badrinath, 170 at Pandukeshwar, 325 at Hanumanchatti, 890 in Govindghat and 5,000 at Ghangharia on the route to lakshman temple-Hemkund Sahib. A total of 310 persons were transported from Govindghat to Joshimath by helicopter. Six helicopters were used to transport the stranded visitors. The district administration is facilitating shelter and meals for the visitors.
Meanwhile, 535 people were transported from Kedarnath to Sonprayag by helicopter on Friday with no pilgrims being stranded now at Kedarnath. The National Highway 109 from Rishikesh to Kedarnath is closed to traffic due to the Sonprayag bridge being washed away. The bridle path from Gaurikund to Kedarnath is open.