Difficult for Kedarnath Yatra to resume for a year

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on Wednesday said it would be difficult for the Kedarnath Yatra to be resumed for a year.

"I don't think we can resume the Yatra there for one year. 18 km of road has been damaged. Kedarnath is in debris. The temple has been saved but there is eight to ten feet of debris all around," he told reporters.

The Chief Minister said until the road is constructed, the debris cannot be removed. "We need machines, cooperation of the Army, Air Force. So, it is a problem of large magnitude. The state government and the central government together are doing their best," he said.

Bahuguna said if the weather is favourable in the coming days, then things will improve.

Over 10,000 personnel of the armed forces, 18 helicopters and a transport plane of the Air Force have been deployed for relief and rescue operations in the state where thousands have been stranded at tourist spots and pilgrim centres.