By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
RUDRAPRAYAG, 18 Jul: The Kedarnath trekking route remained disrupted for the second consecutive day on Saturday following repeated and continued incidents of boulders and stones falling on the pathway amid adverse weather conditions, causing concern among the pilgrims and temporarily affecting the movement of horses, palkis and kandis on the trek.
According to the District Emergency Operations Centre (DEOC), Rudraprayag, the trekking route was first blocked on Friday between Pole nos. 98 and 99 after boulders and stones fell on the pathway. The movement of horses, palkis and kandis was consequently temporarily disrupted. The administration, however, said that pedestrian movement has now been restored and that the pilgrims are now being allowed to proceed on foot.
It may be recalled the latest disruption comes after the Kedarnath Yatra had also been temporarily halted yesterday morning as a precautionary measure following the fall of boulders on the trekking route. Reports from the area indicated that the continued fall of rocks and boulders over the past two days had made the stretch hazardous for pilgrims and animal-based transport services. The route was subsequently cleared sufficiently to facilitate pedestrian movement, although restoration work continues to make the affected stretch safe also for horses and mules.
Teams of the District Disaster Response Force (DDRF), the Jungle Chatti police outpost and the MTF team from Bhimbali have been deployed at the affected location. The teams are monitoring the situation and taking necessary action to ensure the safety of pilgrims and to prevent any untoward incident.
A Junior Engineer of the Construction Division of the Public Works Department, Guptkashi, has informed the authorities that 14 workers have been deployed to expedite the restoration of the route. The work of clearing the debris and making the affected stretch safe is in progress, while the situation is being continuously monitored.
The latest disruption has come at a time when the region is witnessing heightened monsoon activity. The authorities have been keeping a close watch on the Kedarnath trekking route and other vulnerable stretches in view of the continuing risk of landslides, rockfalls and sudden weather changes in the Himalayan terrain. Recent weather-related disruptions have also affected several roads and pilgrimage routes in Uttarakhand, with heavy rainfall increasing the vulnerability of mountain slopes.
The Kedarnath trek, extending from Gaurikund to the shrine, passes through steep and geologically sensitive terrain where prolonged or intense rainfall can loosen rocks and trigger sudden boulder falls. The latest incident has once again highlighted the risks faced by pilgrims undertaking the yatra during the monsoon season.
Although pedestrian movement has been restored on the affected stretch, the movement of horses, mules, palkis and kandis will depend on the safety assessment of the route and the completion of the restoration work.
Authorities have been urging pilgrims to remain alert, follow instructions issued by the administration and avoid moving ahead during any temporary stoppage imposed for safety reasons. With the weather expected to remain unsettled in the region, officials are keeping a continuous watch on the route to ensure that any fresh fall of rocks or boulders is dealt with promptly.
