Army team begins snow clearance to open Hemkunt Sahib route in Uttarakhand

New Delhi: A team of 25 Indian Army personnel has reached Gurdwara Govindghat in Uttarakhand to begin snow clearance work on the route leading to the revered Sikh pilgrimage site, Gurdwara Sri Hemkunt Sahib. The team will commence operations from April 19.

Situated at an altitude of around 15,000 feet, the gates of Hemkunt Sahib will open to devotees on May 25. The pilgrimage, however, will formally begin on May 22 from Gurdwara Sri Rishikesh under the leadership of the Panch Pyaras, according to Narendrajit Singh Bindra, president of the Hemkunt Sahib Trust.

Prior to the clearance work, an Army team conducted a recce to assess the snow-covered terrain and ensure safety. The Atlakoti glacier is reported to be buried under nearly 30 feet of snow, while the smaller Atlakoti glacier has a 10-foot snow layer.

The area around Hemkunt Sahib is covered in 8 to 10 feet of snow, and the 6-km route from Govind Dham to the shrine is under 2 to 7 feet of snow.

The Army team, which reached Govindghat today, will proceed to Govind Dham—13 km away—tomorrow. After a brief halt and weather-dependent acclimatisation, they will begin clearing the path to Hemkunt Sahib.

The first phase will focus on making the route accessible, followed by snow removal around the gurdwara complex.