File photo of Kedarnath temple after flash floods in June
Early this morning, several regional residents and shop owners of Kedarnath arrived at the revered 6th century shrine along with former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. The residents had evacuated Kedarnath just after tragedy struck in June and this was the first time they managed to return.
Many of them, while overjoyed to know that prayers had resumed at the ancient shrine, were soon in despair when they had to wade through debris and rubble to reach their homes and shops, which they had left behind nearly three months ago.
"I came to my home to discover that what nature had not done, thieves had managed to do. They have broken into all my cupboards and boxes and stolen all the money," said a resident.
This in fact was a common threat for all those who today returned to Kedarnath. Many showed us where the thieves had apparently dug through several feet of sand and rubble which had entered their homes, and broken open suitcases and stolen whatever little possession they had.
This is a double tragedy for residents of Kedarnath. First the devastation caused by nature and then valuables stolen, compounded by the fact that they have had no earnings for nearly three months as Kedarnath has been off limits for everybody including them.
So while the government may have secured a symbolic feel-good factor with the resumption of prayers at the temple, it is fast being replaced with despair and anger of the residents of Kedarnath.
Another resident told us that "it was painful to see that little had been done to try and clean up the debris." All the government had done, according to him, was to simply try and cover that up by putting large dented walls along the route to the shrine.
The state administration says it is hopeful of building a secure alternate route to the shrine which may allow some of the people access to Kedarnath. However, time is running out with winter setting in and snow expected at the beginning of next month.