Uttarkashi:
In places like Sangam Chetti in Uttarkashi where the Rishi Ganga and the Asi Ganga merge, crossing the surging river is especially dangerous. But for hundreds of villagers in the area, two pine logs thrown precariously across the raging river is their only access to Uttarkashi - in other words, the outside world.
The metal and concrete bridge over this crucial crossing to Dodital was washed away in last year's rains and subsequent flood. A year later, parts of the twisted metal bridge now sit on the side, tossed there as if it were made of matchsticks.
On Tuesday, 17-year-old Anjana, while returning with a sack of ration, lost her balance on the same log bridge and was swept away. The police have so far not been able to find her.
However, with food stocks running low, the people have no choice but to trek for several hours to get their ration.
"People even had to leave their rations behind. There have also been cases of snatching," says Madan Rawat, a volunteer. "Hiring mules is not an option either as one trip costs Rs 800," says another volunteer.
The Uttarakhand government has assured making mule tracks to most villages but some feel they may still be left out. "We are hoping to have a walking track to Harsil on the way to Gangotri in a month and a half," says Pankaj Pandey, the new District Magistrate of Uttrakashi.
The earlier DM was transferred when an official was photographed loading relief material in his personal car leading to an uproar.
While Kedarnath witnessed the biggest loss in the Himalayan tsunami, lower regions like Uttarkashi also witnessed huge devastation of property and infrastructure which may take years to repair.