A team of 25 Indian Army personnel has reached Gurdwara Govindghat to commence snow-clearing operations and prepare the trekking route leading to the revered Sikh pilgrimage site, Gurdwara Sri Hemkund Sahib. Located at an altitude of nearly15,000 feet in Uttarakhand, the gurdwara is scheduled to open to sangat on May 25.
According to officials, the Army will formally begin its service work on April 19, following a period of acclimatisation at Govind Dham. The team had earlier conducted a reconnaissance of the area to assess the snow conditions.
The Atalakoti Glacier was found to be under nearly 30 feet of snow, while the smaller Atalakoti Glacier has about 10 feet, according to the survey. The vicinity of Hemkund Sahib is currently covered with 8 to 10 feet of snow. The 6-kilometre trail from Govind Dham to the gurdwara is reported to be blanketed with 2 to 7 feet of snow.
Narendrajit Singh Bindra, president of the Hemkund Sahib Trust, stated that the official Hemkund Sahib Yatra 2025 would commence on May 22 from Gurdwara Rishikesh, with the ceremonial procession being led by Panj Pyare. Given the extensive snow accumulation and infrastructure requirements, it is estimated that preparation work may take three to four weeks, prompting the Army to begin operations well in advance.
The Army team which was stationed at Govindghat undertook a 13-kilometre trek to Govind Dham on Friday, where they spent a day acclimatising to the climate before moving towards Hemkund Sahib.
Meanwhile, restoration work is underway on a bridge near Gurdwara Govindghat that was damaged by a landslide. The new bridge, which will have a load capacity of 30 tonnes, is expected to be completed soon. Bindra confirmed that the reconstruction is being carried out on priority with full support from Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who has assured the Trust of the state government’s full cooperation in facilitating a smooth and safe yatra.
Follow us
