Gangotri temple continues to face a serious threat due to the expansion of the Bhaironjhap nullah located near the shrine. The debris brought by last year’s flash floods in the nullah has not been removed. No measures have been taken to mitigate the threat posed by this nullah in the monsoon season.
last year floods in the Kedar Ganga had caused damage to a large portion of Gangotri. The road going by the Gujarati Ashram across the Gangotri shrine bridge was also destroyed by the floods which had also caused major erosion in the area. In case of a flood this year, the debris in Bhaironjhap nullah could cause damage to the shrine. The boulders from this nullah had last reached the temple compound following heavy rains in 2002. The local administration has attempted to protect the shrine by building a wall but the nullah is expanding with debris from last year yet to be cleared. locals fear that in case of a flood, the floodwater and debris could turn towards the temple and cause major damage. It is worth mentioning here that 140 square kilometres area around Gangotri is considered to be very sensitive and prone to landslides.