With the start of the Char Dham Yatra, devotees from different parts of India have started reaching the four shrines even though the number of visitors this year is considerably less so far compared to the last year. Pilgrims are reaching the Char Dham shrines inspite of incomplete repairs of the roads and inadequate facilities.
With the reopening of Badrinath shrine for the public on Monday, all the Char Dham shrines are now open for the public but the preparations needed for a convenient and safe journey are not in place at various places on the pilgrimage circuit. Though the district administration claims to have completed repair and construction works, the ground reality is different.
The Gangotri highway ahead of Uttarkashi town is badly damaged at many places and same is the case with the highways leading to Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath. At many places the danger zones activated after the last year’s disaster have not been repaired fully. Snowfall in the higher reaches has also affected the movement of visitors.
On Sunday, about 40 pilgrims were held back by the authorities at the base camp, about two kilometres from Kedarnath, due to snowfall. Though pilgrims are somehow reaching the shrines, it is feared that in case of rain or snowfall the route might become dangerous especially the bridle path to Kedarnath.