The State Government is planning to gain brownie points by facilitating the resumption of pilgrimage to Hemkund Sahib from September 21. However, the locals are questioning the point in reopening the pilgrimage to the shrines without full repair of the damage at a time when about a fortnight is left for the closure of the portals of this shrine to the public. Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna is slated to flag off the batch of pilgrims to Hemkund from Govindghat on September 21.
The Bhyundar and Pulna villages and other settlements in this region were destroyed in the disaster on June 16-17 but little has been done to rehabilitate the affected people here. The Government is instead focusing on resuming the pilgrimage to Hemkund for about a fortnight period before the portals of the shrine are closed for the winter.
It is pertinent to mention here that after the disaster in June, the pilgrimage to Hemkund was stopped like the Char Dham Yatra. The routes to the shrines are still disrupted in various places. An alternate bridge has been erected at Govindghat. Alternate bridges have also been provided for Bhyundar and Khwan areas. However, all the shops and stalls along the route to Hemkund have been closed by the owners. With the original route to the shrine damaged severely, an alternate route has been created through the jungle. In such a scenario, the locals question who will be responsible if anyone travelling to Hemkund meet with an unfortunate accident.
One has to trek for about 19 kms from Govindghat to reach Hemkund. The first stop over on the route is Govind Dham and though a route has been opened to Hemkund after the disaster, trekking on this route is dangerous. The mules too will be traversing on this narrow path for the first time. It is worth mentioning here that every year, the portals of Hemkund Sahib are closed to the public on October 5 for the winters. However, it is being said that this year the portals will be closed to the public on October 10. The locals are skeptical as to how many devotees will turn up to undertake this dangerous journey open only for about 20 days.
While all commercial establishments including eateries and lodges along the route are closed, only the businessmen operating at Ghaghariya are leaving on September 17 to open their lodges and shops. With only a limited number of eateries and lodges expected to be open along the difficult route to Hemkund, the local traders are skeptical about the intentions of the government. Some believe that the pilgrimage in Hemkund and even Kedarnath is being resumed mainly to benefit aviation companies operating helicopter services to these shrines.