UTTARAKHAND, INDIA, May 3,2012 (India Today): Heavy snowfall has badly affected the annual pilgrimage to Kedarnath this year in Uttarakhand. The portals of this famous Hindu shrine, located in Rudraprayag, were opened for visitors on April 28. But it’s been snowing in Kedarnath ever since, creating problem for the local administration.
Situated at an altitude of 3,581 metres, the Kedarnath shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Gaurikund is the last road head and after that one has to undertake a tough 14 kilometre trek to reach the shrine.
Bad weather has played spoilsport and the chopper service to Kedarnath is yet to start. The district administration is finding it tough to make the drinking water pipeline functional and to restore electricity as well as telephone lines. Daily snowfall has hit the basic amenities hard in the area. At present Kedarnath is facing an acute crisis of kerosene.
The death of five pilgrims, due to extreme cold, has forced the local administration to conduct mandatory medical tests on all elderly people undertaking the 14 km trek. Besides, visitors are not allowed to move from Gaurikund to Kedarnath after 2 pm.