Elderly, kids barred from Hemkunt yatra
The portals of the Hemkunt Sahib shrine in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district will open on May 20 even as the district administration in consultation with yatra management trust has prohibited the pilgrims who are unwell, above age 60 and children from taking part in the journey, people familiar with the matter said on Sunday.
The development comes in the backdrop of the route being covered with excessive snow and will be implemented for the initial days of the yatra until the snow melts and it is safe for pilgrims. Confirming the same, Gurudwara Sri Hemkunt Sahib Management Trust chairman NS Bindra said, “The yatra will begin from May 20. The army personnel had started the snow clearing work from April and have succeeded in opening the route till the shrine but as the area has experienced eight feet of snow we in consultation with the district administration have decided to prohibit the sick and pilgrims above 60 years along with children from taking part in the Hemkunt Sahib Yatra in view of their safety.”
Reiterating the stand, Chamoli district magistrate Himanshu Khurana said, “The trust has taken the decision in consultation with the district administration.” “The area received heavy spells of snow in past 15 days and after reviewing the weather conditions which are showing signs of improvement all the pilgrims will be permitted as it will be safer for them to continue the yatra on the route,” he added.
“Additional workforce have been deployed to assist the army personnel in clearing the snow and to speed up the work. The teams from national and state disaster response force will also be deployed to assist the pilgrims near Atla Koti area which is covered with snow,” said Khurana. The DM also visited the yatra route on Sunday to review the preparation and the facilities being provided to the pilgrims on the 18-km stretch right up to Hemkunt Sahib shrine and expressed satisfaction at the work done.
The officials were directed to streamline all arrangements before the commencement of the yatra and ensure a regular supply of drinking water on the route along with the installation of stand posts, water ATM and medical relief camp near Ghangria area, he said.
The officials were also directed to provide warm water for the mule and horses operating on the yatra route.
Talking about the arrangements, gurdwara committee manager at Govind Ghat Sewa Singh said, “The snow has been cleared for pilgrims but for their safety, the mule, horse and dandy operations will be permitted till two kilometres prior to the main shrine due to slippery condition of the stretch.”
So far out of the 84 dangerous bends on the route, condition of 54 have been improved while the work on the remaining is ongoing. A 165-metre-long bridge has been completed in Mundar village and approach roads have also been prepared on both sides. At least 10 rain shelters, and benches have been installed on the route between Pulna village and Hemkund Kund and the five-kilometre road from Govind Ghat to Pulna village has also been completed while two separate parking lots have been constructed for taxi drivers in Pulna village. A temporary parking lot has also been constructed at Govind Ghat by the district administration for the pilgrim vehicles this year, said district administration officials.
Around 50,000 pilgrims have registered for Hemkund Sahib yatra and the pilgrims are being advised to bring warm clothes to avoid extreme cold weather conditions during the yatra season, said gurdwara committee manager Sewa Singh.