Currently, after entering Joshimath, pilgrims follow a one-way plan for vehicles to and from Badrinath. Some of the houses and roads there have developed cracks. Even the sewers are crumbling. The state government recently said that the yatra would not be affected and that it would go “as planned”.
Under all weather Char Dham For the road project, authorities are preparing a “Badrinath bypass”, starting at Helang, about 9 km before Joshimath and ending at Marwadi Road. But the project is only half way through, and has been strongly opposed by the local people. Work on the detour project has been “stopped” due to protests and anger in Joshimath and it may not be ready by the first week of May when the yatra usually begins.
The massive increase in the number of pilgrims in recent years has added difficulties to local authorities. More numbers mean more vehicles and therefore more pressure on the terrain, which has now become loose and dangerous in many parts of Joshimath. In 2016, 6.5 thousand pilgrims visited Badrinath. That is 9.2 lakh in 2017, 10.4 lakh in 2018 and 12.4 lakh in 2019. Yatra is still cut in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, this number has skyrocketed to 17, 6 thousand.
Did the ancient Hindu sages make predictions about the land subsidence of Joshimath?
The opening date of the temple’s gates is usually announced on the occasion of ‘Basant Panchami‘ each year. Usually, the doors of the dham are opened to pilgrims in the last week of April or the first week of May. In 2022, Badrinath gates are opened on 8 May and Kedarnath yatra starts on 6 May.
Given Joshimath’s current state, the cracks widening and area after area declared unsafe, authorities have more than three months to sort things out in the hill town. or find a suitable alternative. Since the incident came to light on January 2, at least 849 houses, hotels, roads and stairs in Joshimath have appeared cracks.
Watch: New snowfall at the holy shrine of Badrinath in Uttarakhand
CM Pushkar Singh DhamiDuring his visit to the town, he said that “winter games in Auli and Badrinath yatra will not be affected”.
