According to sources at the district headquarters in Chamoli, the massive snow block poses a challenge to the smooth conduct of the yatra, which is expected to attract thousands of devotees. “Efforts are underway to clear the snow and ensure the pilgrims’ safety,” a government spokesperson said.According to Sardar Seva Singh, senior manager of Gurudwara Govindghat, an inspection team comprising Gurudwara staff and three army personnel ventured to assess the condition of the route. “A team with army personnel inspected the route and found a 20-foot snow block at Atlakoti,” Singh confirmed.The team returned to Govindghat on Wednesday after completing their assessment. Providing further details on the challenging conditions, Bindra stated, “The Atal Koti Glacier is completely snow-laden with accumulated snow depth of up to 30 feet, while the smaller Atal Koti Glacier has 10 feet of snow.” He lauded the Indian Army’s efforts, adding, “This service is being rendered by the Indian Army, who take pride in undertaking this task. Trust volunteers and cooks will also accompany the team to oversee other essential arrangements.””As many as 29,315 pilgrims have registered for the Hemkund Sahib yatra till Friday this year,” said Yogendra Gangwar, Nodal Officer, Uttarakhand Tourism Department’s Char Dham Yatra Division. “Usually, around 2 lakh Sikh devotees visit Uttarakhand every year to pay obeisance at Hemkund Sahib,” Gangwar added.
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