After the weather in Uttarakhand has improved, the footpath to Kedarnath Dham has once again been opened for devotees. According to officials, the footpath has been completely reopened for the movement of pilgrims on Monday.
According to the news agency report, the route from Gaurikund to Kedarnath was closed for the last 26 days after heavy rains in different parts of Uttarakhand caused extensive damage on the night of July 31. The 19 km route was damaged at 29 places and the road was blocked due to debris.
Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said the route has now been fully reopened even for horses and mules, which are used to transport pilgrims to the temple.
He said the supply of ration and other essential items on horses and mules has also resumed through the route. Thousands of people were stranded due to landslides caused by rain on the route, forcing the administration to launch a massive rescue operation with the help of Chinook and MI17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force besides private helicopters.
More than 11,000 people, including pilgrims and locals, were evacuated during the week-long rescue operation monitored by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)