Rains wash away steps on Girnar mountain

Ahmedabad, Sep 1 (UNI) Some of the 100-year-old steps on Mount Girnar were washed away near the Gaumukhi Ganga temple following heavy rains for the last two days.

From the foothills to Gaumukhi there are 4,300 steps and from Gaumukhi to Ambaji another 700 steps. The steps have been washed away yesterday from Gaumukhi to Ambaji resulting in a deep drop of 50 feet into the valley that has become too dangerous for the pilgrims, who want to go ahead to Ambaji.

Mount Girnar usually experiences twice the amount of rain than Junagadh. This time around the season's rainfall so far, has been 80 inches as compared to Junagadh's 45 inches.

Girnar forests' Range Forest Officer Mr Jalavadia told UNI today that its very difficult to repair the damage, given the prevailing rainy season. However, the repairs will begin as soon as the rains end.

It is interesting to note that the steps on the Girnar mountains were built by Junagadh Diwan Haridas Viharidas Desai. To raise money during a difficult financial situation, the Diwan had announced a lottery scheme and after the distribution of prizes, a sum of Rs 3.5 lakh was left which was used to build the 5,500 steps to Ambaji.

This severe damage to the steps is not for the first time. In 1975, on the day of Mahashivratri the muddy parapet wall around the steps near Ranakdevi gave way due to heavy crowd and 30 people had died falling into the valley below.

UNI