Hemkunt Sahib Yatra unlikely to restart this year: SHSMT

The Hemkunt Sahib Yatra is unlikely to restart this year.

Vice-chairman of Shri Hemkunt Sahib Management Trust (SHSMT) and chairman of the minorities commission of Uttarakhand Narinder Jeet Singh Bindra today said this while pointing out that it was difficult to restart the Yatra this year as rescue operations are still going on.

'It is impossible to restart the Yatra this year, a final decision would be taken in the meeting of the trust management,' Bindra told PTI over phone.

Asked about the situation in Gurudwara Hemkunt Sahib, he said level of the lake around the Gurudwara has risen and sand bag bunds have been erected to prevent inflow of water into the sanctum sanctorum.

The building of Gurudwara Govind Dham is safe but muddy water has entered it, he said adding, Army choppers are evacuating pilgrims who are still stuck at Govind Dham.

There is no connection left from Govind Ghat to Govind Dham as both bridges have washed out, he added.