Kedarnath mule trek route opens 26 days after landslide

Dehradun: The Kedarnath trek route, spanning 19km from Sonprayag, reopened on Monday, 26 days after it was severely damaged at 29 locations due to landslides triggered by incessant rainfall on July 31. The devastation caused major disruptions, making the route impassable for both pilgrims and pack animals. Repair work began immediately, and despite the challenging conditions, significant progress was made.
By Aug 15, state authorities allowed pilgrims to resume their journey on the trek route, though repair and strengthening efforts continued. The reopening of the mule route is a critical step in restoring the normal supply chain of essential goods, including ration supplies, to the remote temple town.

Additionally, the Sonprayag-Gaurikund highway, which also suffered damage, is under repair, with vehicle movement expected to resume shortly. This development comes after the successful rescue of over 10,000 stranded pilgrims, who were safely evacuated in a week-long operation following the disaster.
District disaster management officer Nandan Singh Rajwar highlighted the challenges faced during the repair process. “Repairing the route amid challenging weather was a major task, but we managed to get it done quickly. Most of the route is now ready for mule traffic, though work continues at some slime points,” he said.