The people dependent on pilgrimage to Badrinath and Hemkund have suffered major loss of income due to the disaster cutting short the Yatra to these shrines. While the Yatra to Badrinath was conducted only for a month before the disaster struck, the pilgrimage to Hemkund lasted only 20 days this year. This has posed a major problem for those who make most of their income during the Char Dham Yatra season.
A considerable number of people in the Joshimath development block depend mainly on tourism activities for their income. Most have taken loans from banks to runs shops or other businesses.
However, soon after the start of the Char Dham Yatra, the devastation caused by the first spell of heavy rains in the mountainous regions has disrupted the Yatra and denied the locals, the income they generated from tourism-related activities. This year the portals of Badrinath were reopened to the public on May 16, while the portals of Hemkund Sahib were reopened on May 25.
The motor road to Badrinath is blocked to traffic at different points. The bridge near lambagad was also washed away in the disaster so reopening the road to Badrinath is expected to take some time. The traders and others involved in businesses related to the Yatra are anxious about when the Yatra will
be resumed.
All the shops are now closed in Badrinath which looks deserted whereas it would have been teeming with visitors, businessmen and workers among others had the disaster not caused disruption. locals fear that the Yatra might not be resumed this year.
The condition of the route to Hemkund is also bad. The Govindghat-Hemkund bridge was washed away by flood in the Alaknanda. The 19-km long pedestrian route to Hemkund is also damaged at several places.