PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE | Uttarkashi
After the resumption of Badrinath and Kedarnath Yatra, pilgrims’ movement at Gangotri Dham also started on Wednesday while the Yamunotri route will reopen from September 13. Uttarkashi district administration has started preparations to restore the Char Dham Yatra after disruptions caused by the monsoon disaster.
A meeting was also held on Wednesday to discuss the preparations. Uttarkashi district magistrate Prashant Arya said that the journey to Gangotri was allowed in a limited and regulated manner from Tuesday. He informed that parts of the Gangotri National Highway, including Dharasu, Nalupani, Helgugad and Dabrani, are witnessing frequent landslides.
The administration has deployed machinery and relief teams and is sending only limited pilgrims towards Gangotri considering the safety conditions. He said that the Yamunotri National Highway suffered damage at Junglechatti, Banas and Phoolchatti. At Junglechatti, about 150 metres of road was washed out while 40 metres at Banas and a section near Phoolchatti were also damaged.
The National Highway authority is carrying out restoration work at these locations and aims to complete it by September 12 so that the Yatra can resume from September 13. According to official data, a total of 6,68,365 pilgrims visited Gangotri Dham and 5,85,237 pilgrims visited Yamunotri Dham by August 5.
The district administration has appealed to pilgrims to follow the standard operating procedures to avoid any untoward situation. Regarding the relief and rescue operations after the Dharali disaster, the DM stated that the administration is maintaining constant monitoring and providing immediate assistance in the affected areas.
