Indian Army Clears Snowbound Route To Hemkund Sahib; Pilgrimage Begins On Schedule

Battling extreme weather and challenging terrain, the Indian Army's IBEX Sappers have successfully cleared the snow-covered route leading to Shri Hemkund Sahib, ensuring that the annual pilgrimage began on schedule on May 25.

Operating at an altitude of over 15,000 feet above mean sea level, soldiers from the Uttar Bharat Area carved out a 6-kilometre path through glacier-bound terrain. The Gurdwara management committee formally acknowledged the Army's efforts with gratitude and reverence.

Preparations Amidst Severe Conditions

Preparations for this year's yatra were particularly challenging. In April, a bridge collapsed at Govindghat, and heavy snowfall along the trekking route threatened to delay the pilgrimage. An advance 25-member Army team was deployed to Govindghat, where they acclimatised in Ghangharia before beginning the arduous task of snow clearance.

A reconnaissance team found that the 6-kilometre stretch from Ghangharia to Hemkund Sahib was buried under 2 to 7 feet of snow. At Atlakoti, a 20-foot-high snowdrift blocked the 'Aastha Path', and the Atal Koti Glacier was covered in up to 30 feet of snow, with another glacier nearby under 10 feet of snow.

A Collaborative Effort

The Army worked in close coordination with the Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara Management Committee, trust volunteers, and local authorities. Joint inspections and collaborative action ensured that obstacles were systematically removed, making the route safe for pilgrims.

Despite the challenges, enthusiasm among devotees remained high. By mid-April, over 29,000 pilgrims had registered for the yatra. Annually, nearly 2 lakh Sikh devotees undertake the journey to Hemkund Sahib.

(Aritra Banerjee is a defence and security writer)