light rain in Kedarnath on Tuesday did not deter the flow of pilgrims to the shrine a day after its portals—along with the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri—were reopened to the public. According to Government sources, most of Char Dham Yatra road circuit is open to small and bigger vehicles though some other roads in Chamoli district remained closed to traffic due to debris on Tuesday. The government machinery is in place to tackle any exigency arising from factors like heavy rain forecast in isolated parts of the State in the coming days.
As per the information provided by the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) on Tuesday, the Rishikesh-Kedarnath national highway number 109 was open for small and larger vehicles up to Gaurikund and the bridle path from Gaurikund to Kedarnath was also open for pilgrims with light rain being experienced at Kedarnath.
According to the status report from the Chamoli district emergency operation centre, the Tharali-Ghat motor road had been opened up to the sixth-kilometre milestone though it is estimated that it will take between 10 to 12 days for reopening the remaining stretch of this road. The Karnprayag-Nainisar motor road was reported to be blocked at the third kilometer milestone with detailed information awaited from the district level.
The Rishikesh-Badrinath national highway number 58 has remained open for small and larger vehicles up to Badrinath. According to information reported by the Uttarkashi district emergency operation centre, the Rishikesh-Gangotri national highway number 108 has remained open for small and big vehicles up to Gangotri whereas the Rishikesh-Yamunotri national highway number 94 has also remained open for small and larger vehicles up to Janakichatti as on Tuesday.
The authorities are also monitoring the weather condition with the meteorological centre forecasting cloudy skies, light to moderate rain and snowfall between May 10 and 14 at areas including Badrinath, lakshman temple at lokpal and Hemkund Sahib, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri and higher altitude areas of Pithoragarh district. A couple of spells of light to moderate snowfall could also be experienced in these areas during the said period.