By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Rudraprayag, 23 Jan: The mountains and valleys of Uttarakhand are in the grip of a severe cold wave as the result of three days of heavy snowfall and rain. Two major highways were blocked on Wednesday. The Rudraprayag-Gaurikund National Highway was closed due to a landslide at Bansbada for five hours. The Ukhimath-Chopta road was closed by snow near Potibasar, clearing which proved a major exercise for the authorities.
There is seven feet of snow at the Kedarnath Shrine. Reconstruction work has been totally stopped, as a result. Workers and officials are melting snow to obtain water. It has become difficult for people to step out of their homes, and roads have become unusable. Tourists are facing a difficult time. They arrived in Chopta to see the snowfall, but found themselves overwhelmed by the conditions. The roads were blocked at many places. It is only by evening that these could be cleared.
There has been power failure in Triyuginarain and other places for the past two days. The temperature has fallen to minus fourteen degrees centigrade.
According to DM Mangesh Ghildiyal claimed that the administration was doing everything to face every challenge. The executing agencies had been directed to clear the Bansbada blockage as soon as possible. The tourists would be provided passage out at Chopta. A close eye was being kept on the rural areas, also.
All the same, the difficulties have not been able to curb the enthusiasm of the tourists, who are enjoying the snowy conditions.
