A year has passed but the shocking image of Uttarakhand remains in the minds of those who lost their near and dear ones or saw their livelihood destroyed in the June 2013 disaster.
On the intervening night of June 16-17, 2013 when Mandakini, Alaknanda and other rivers, which merge to form the holy Ganga river, turned into a moving force of destruction that left thousands dead in Dev Bhoomi.
They brought devastation especially in Kedar valley because of a glacier breaking and Chourabari lake, which receive water when glacier melts and is source of Mandakini river, broke the wall of Chaurabari.
With this mud and huge boulders slided down and brought devastation in Kedar valley. Although a huge boulder came behind Kedarnath shrine and managed to save the temple because water divided into two directions.
According to eye-witnesses, icy water rolling down the mountainside in a sea of mud and rocks, washed away 2,072 roads and 145 bridges is recurring nightmare for the affected people for whom nothing much has changed as Uttarkhand marks the first anniversary of the devastating flood on Monday.
Several promises were made by then State Government to ensure safety, lesser environment damage and prompt rescue of those trapped in the difficult terrain between the route of the Char Dham i.e Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.
locals alleged that nothing has changed because they were earning their annual income during yatra season but this year yatra had begun by May 5 but they could not revive their business because pilgrims flow is very limited.
The State Government, which could not decide with whom they wanted to rebuild the damaged road either BRO or PWD, and now the situation is before everyone.
The BRO thought the road will be made by the PWD so they did not start building roads and the PWD staff were waiting for clear instructions from the State Government.
In this process best opportune time to rebuild the road is over because monsoon is about to break. The Government has announced lakhs of rupees as compensation but it has failed to restore faith among the locals to resume their outlets in the Kedar valley so they are insecure about their future.
The State Government claims that more than three lakh pilgrims have visited Char Dham but the registration counter, where biometric registration is being done by the State, says only around one lakh pilgrims have registered for Char Dham.
Before the disaster this figure was touching to 11-12 lakh till June 15, 2012 and entire yatra season around 27 lakh pilgrims visited in the year 2012. Around 30 per cent of Uttarakhand’s total gross State domestic product comes from tourism.
After the disaster of 2013 the State Government had claimed that they are exploring the possibility of constructing a ropeway to Kedarnath but yet to see any progress in it.