Snow, rain hampers yatra route work in Uttarakhand

DEHRADUN: Sudden snowfall and rain in the higher reaches of Uttarakhand has forced the state government to once again extend the deadline for completion of the 9-km Rambara trek route and 23-km Sonprayag track to Kedarnath by two days to April 27.
The earlier deadline for completion of arrangements for the Char Dham yatra, which is beginning on May 2, was April 20, which was extended to April 25 two weeks ago.
A senior IAS officer in Dehradun said the primary reason for extending the deadline was the inclement weather which had hampered completion of the construction work. He said yatra-related preparations also included clearing sheets of four to five feet high snow lying on pedestrian treks leading to Kedarnath.
Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar said the government had decided to extend the deadline as it was keen on making fool-proof arrangements for devotees and did not want to take any chance with their safety.
DIG GS Martolia and Director of Uttarkashi-based Nehru Mountaineering Institute (NIM) have been currently leading a 700-member task force team to clear these tracks and make other yatra-related preparations.
They told TOI that the task force comprising 400 professionally-trained mountaineers from NIM, have been fighting hostile weather conditions prevailing in the region to completely clear the snow-covered treks leading to Kedarnath to meet the extended deadline set for the purpose. “Once we succeed in clearing these heavily snow covered pedestrian treks on way to Kedarnath, our actual part of yatra related preparations will be complete,” said NIM Director Ajay Kotiyal.
Construction of two valley bridges on way to Kedarnath from Sonprayag are also underway to facilitate smooth trekking by thousands devotees who are expected to throng Kedarnath shrine, a senior official in Uttarakhand Disaster Management department said.
“We have also constructed 200 mini night shelters and roadside joints to serve good food to yatris at highly subsidized rates, on way to Kedarnath from Sonpryag and Rambara,” said an official in Dehradun.