Uttarakhand takes slew of steps to tackle deluge in Kedarnath

New Delhi

As many as six helipads have been constructed to be used for rescue operations during emergency, mandatory registration has been introduced for pilgrims and horses/mules, wider roads have been laid, weather forecast is done at least three times a day and a three-tier protection has been put in place around the temple against water and boulders.

"We thought about how we can protect the shrine if similar disaster takes place in future. The protection has to be mainly from two things-- water and boulders. So a three-tier protection plan was carried out. We will fence the area with gabion wall near the Chorabari lake, from where the devastation started, to stop the boulders from hurtling down," Rakesh Sharma, Principal Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand said.

A gabion wall is a retaining wall made of stacked stone-filled gabions tied together with wire.

Only 40,000 pilgrims visited Kedarnath in 2014 where the total number of yatris in a single season used to go beyond five lakh prior to the devastation, he said.

According to the state government officials, only a fixed number of pilgrims will be allowed to visit the shrine every day and all of them will be registered through a biometric system.

"There will be compulsory biometric pilgrim registration and verification system. We have fixed quota per day for number of pilgrims starting yatra at Sonprayag. Pilgrims will also have to go through compulsory medical examination," he said.

Most of the development work was outsourced to Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, which also identified new routes from Rambara, one of the points between Gaurikund and Kedarnath, to the shrine and built roads and bridges.

"New alternative routes were carved from Rambara to Kedarnath. A 9 km new alignment has been worked out which will be helpful in evacuating people during such floods," Sharma said.

Facilities have been created for 5000 yatris to stay at various halting points along the route and 20 rain shelters have been erected between Sonprayag and Rambara.

"New halting places have been created with boarding and lodging facilities for pilgrims at Kedarnath Mi-26 Helipad, base camp Kedarnath, Lincholi, Bheembali and Junglechatti," he said.

Kedarnath, one of the most sacred of Hindu shrines, is located at an altitude of 11,755 feet above sea level.