File photo of the devastation after Uttarakhand floods
Pilgrims may go to Kedarnath by helicopter from next month while the Badrinath yatra will resume from October, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said today.
Prayers will resume on September 11 in Kedarnath temple, which suffered extensive destruction in June due to flash floods triggered by torrential rains in Uttarakhand, although very few people will be allowed there on that occasion.
The state government, however, is in the process of making arrangements for general public to visit the temple from next month till the doors get closed at Diwali for winter.
"It is not possible in near future to go there on foot. We have made three makeshift helipads there but they are yet to get approval from DGCA. There will be an important meeting on September 30 in which it will be decided how and from when people can go there by helicopter," Mr Bahuguna told PTI.
"Hopefully, people can go there by choppers from October. We have built a bridge where choppers land and the temple is 15 minutes' walk from there. We will decide on this on September 30. Pilgrimage on foot is not possible in near future as there is no infrastructure for night halts as of now," he said.
"The weather is still a major constraint as it has been raining till now. A lot will depend on weather conditions." Mr Bahuguna said.
"As far as Badrinath is concerned, the Yatra will resume in October as roads will be repaired by that time" he said, adding the Hemkund yatra will resume by the end of this month.