Nanda Devi Rajjat Yatra in Uttarakhand
DEHRADUN: The Nanda Devi Rajjat Yatra in Uttarakhand slated to begin on August 29 from Nauti village in Chamoli district has been deferred. The Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra is 12 day journey to Roopkund Lake Trekking.
The decision came in the wake of extensive damage on the route due to the environmental catastrophe that struck Rudrapryag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts on June 16 and June 17.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the 15-member Nanda Devi Rajjat Committee headed by its president Rakesh Kunwar and general secretary Bhuvan Nautiyal.
Kunwar said members and office-bearers unanimously decided to defer 21-day long Yatra on repeated requests from state government and other social and religious organizations to put off the Yatra indefinitely due to unfavourable conditions in the region.
"Keeping in view requests and sentiments from members of different organizations, we have finally deferred the Yatra indefinitely," Kunwar said.
Kunwar and Nautiyal said the committee will chalk out a plan for the Yatra next year after damage has been repaired.
Committee's general secretary Bhuvan Nautiyal said after the entire pedestrian track and all its 10 main destinations on the Yatra route were completely washed away in deluge, it had become virtually impossible to proceed on religious and spiritual journey.
"Under the circumstances, we were left with no option but to put it off," said Nautiyal.
Uttarakhand government and different organizations took the decision saying that decision was taken in the interest of thousands of yatris and devotees of Godess Parvati.
"We are extremely happy at the decision as it will prevent possibility of any major mis-happening during the Yatra," said an office-bearer of Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee.
