Kedar journey risky at present, avoid yatra for a week: Priest

Holding that arrangements for the Kedarnath yatra are not adequate yet, the temple's chief priest Bhimashankar Ling today advised devotees planning to visit the Himalayan shrine to put their plans on hold for at least a week as it could be "risky".
Citing the poor condition of the road leading to the shrine, the chief priest (Rawal) said undertaking the arduous journey could be "risky" at present but hoped things will soon be okay as the snow melts and work on Linchauli to Kedarnatrh pedestrian route paces up.
"The slopes on Linchauli to Kedarnath route are too steep which can cause problems to the old. Snow is still there in the area. The soil is wet. It will take at least 7-8 days more for the road leading to the shrine to be complete.

"So I would advise pilgrims not to undertake the journey to Kedarnath for at least a week," the chief priest told PTI from Ukhimath on phone.
Though the state government is working overtime to repair and construct the roads everything is not quite in place as of now, he said.
There are no mule operators to be found in the area this year as in the past.

Only facilities made available by the state government are there. So devotees, young and old alike, have to walk to the temple. What is adding to their woes is rains on short intervals in the area which have kept the soil wet.

"People walk gingerly on the roads fearing the earth under their feet might slide," the Rawal said.
However, expressing satisfaction over the pace at which road construction work is being carried out by different agencies, Ling said by prioritising the chardham yatra, Chief Minister Harish Rawat had done a great job.
"Harish Rawat has done a wonderful job. There is no dearth of food supplies or places to rest for devotees.The only problem is the condition of roads," he said.
However, he said he was optimistic that in a week's time things will be fine and more and more devotees will throng the famous shrine whose adjoining areas bore the brunt of the massive devastation caused by last year's deluge.