BadrinathBadrinath: Excavation done under a master plan on the banks of the Alaknanda river just below the world famous Badrinath temple in the high Himalayan Garhwal district of Uttarakhand led to a flood-like situation on the river late on Monday evening. By evening, the water started reaching the boundary of the historic Taptkund and the temple was destroyed. The devotees present were frightened. However, after several hours of flooding, the water level in the river became normal. Alaknanda flows just a few meters below the Badrinath temple. The river
in the middle of the temple is the historically and religiously important holy Taptkund. Before visiting the temple, devotees take a bath in this hot water pond and enjoy the darshan of Lord Badrivishal. Near this place is the Brahmakapal area where devotees perform Pitru Daan in memory of their ancestors. There are 12 rocks on the river bank in this area which are worshipped by the devotees coming for the Badrinath Yatra. The Alaknanda river in the area remained submerged in flood water for several hours. According to eyewitnesses, this fierce form of the river was terrifying. Local residents said that as a result of the excavation done as per the master plan, the pieces of soil deposited on the banks in the lower part of the Badrinath Temple were washed away with the rise in the water level of Alaknanda, but small stones and boulders got stuck there and formed the bank of Alaknanda below the temple and the flow stopped. Due to this, the Brahmakapal area of the Badrinath temple was in danger for about three hours. Praveen Dhyani, president of Badrinath Tirthpurohit, said that we have been warning the local administration for a long time about the possible danger to the Badrinath temple, especially Taptkund, due to the construction of the master plan. He said: “In the last month, I personally approached the District Magistrate twice about this, but no attention was paid to me.” Dhyani, who has been associated with the pilgrimage business in Badrinath for 40 years, said that this is the first time he has seen such a rise in the water level in Alaknanda. He said, “For the first time, all the 12 stones have been immersed in the water of Alaknanda and the river water is flowing into Brahmakapal and Taptkund, it is a danger signal for this world famous temple.”
