Nearly a year after
flashfloods devastated large parts of Uttarakhand, long shadows of the natural
disaster have clouded the annual pilgrimage to the Kedarnath shrine.
The shrine of Kedarnath and its
adjoining areas were the worst affected in the June 16 big disaister which had
left over 10,000 dead. Thousands of bodies were never found.
The floods had
also damaged many strategic roads and most of them are yet to be repaired.
Kedarnath is
301 km from capital Dehradun but the last 20km to the shrine, from Sonprayag,
has to be made on foot.
Local
residents said that after the disaster last year, pilgrims are afraid to visit
the state. Devotees from all over the country used to visit the shrine each
year. The entire economy of the region is
dependent on the yatra and this time there is little movement of pilgrims.
But the entrance to the hotel is still closed and this shows that there is nil
occupancy here
.
Meanwhile devotees
going to the eighth century shrine of Kedarnath have been stopped at Sonprayag
and Linchauli about four kms away from the temple, those heading for Badrinath
have been asked not to go beyond Joshimath till the weather improves.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat said the move has been deferred
because of the Model Code of Conduct which will remain in force till May 16.
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