Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat along with Kedarnath MlA Manoj Rawat and Rajya Sabha MP Pradeep Tamta have been stranded at Kedarnath due to snowfall since Monday night. Rawat had travelled to Kedarnath to visit the shrine and check the condition of reconstruction works and was slated to return from there in a helicopter. However, the authorities have halted helicopter services due to the inclement weather. Meanwhile, the former CM said through his spokesman Surendra Kumar that the chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh had spoken to him inquiring about his health and the situation at Kedarnath.
Stating that the authorities are alert in Kedarnath, Harish Rawat suggested that the authorities should provide wood stoves at various sites. Further, work should be undertaken on war footing to restore electricity supply which has been disrupted in Kedarnath since Monday. Rawat said, “The State Government should provide a blanket and raincoat each to all pilgrims between Kedarnath and Bhimbali.
Food and lodging should be provided to all the pilgrims at the sites they are in. Tea, hot water and jaggery should be provided to all the pilgrims on the Yatra route here. The chief secretary has assured that necessary steps will be taken.