Joshimath IV

Diary for 5th October

Started out to Badrinath. Turned back 20 kilometres short. Used logic instead of the statement of having to have been there.

Lovely morning. Clear skies. 


Left by 0800. Going was good. Not too much traffic. Stopped along for pictures of all that was visible.




Till I hit the tail of a queue. Nothing to do but take pictures.



There had been an update coming in from the police saying that there was a landslip at Lambagad. Suppose I was getting it as I had registered as a Kedarnath pilgrim. Hadn’t thought much about it, as landslides are common in these parts.



Well, I was still 3 kilometres from Lambagad. Vehicles were coming down, but we stayed stationary. Got there at 0930 and was at the same spot till 1045. Then we moved up by a kilometre and stopped again for 15minutes or so. And then, moved again. By now, it was 1130. Thought we would get thru, when we stayed stationary till 1200. 

There were people walking down. Beliieve they had got stuck at the village we passed a couple of kilometres back the previous night, and had walked. The land was still slipping. Vehicles were being allowed downhill as they wanted as few people stuck on top as possible. 

My choice was to either go along with the crowd, and turn back at Badrinath. No way I was going into the themple with the crowd that was ahead of me. And, there was the possibility that if it rained, I would be stuck. Even dry, there was no way i would get back to Joshimath by 3PM.

I aborted. There is another group of people who have gone from this resort to Badrinath. Not back yet. It is 1810.

Came back to Joshimath and fuelled up at the one and only diesel pump, after waiting in yet another queue. Had lunch, relaxed the rest of the afternoon away. 



Leave you with the evening sky. I am now being entertained by loud Gharwali music by the neighbours, some 100 meters away. Some festivities !!

The family that left just after me, got back when I was having dinner. And, in dry weather. Good decision,Vasu.


Off to Uttarkashi tomorrow. Long run.

Comments

  1. Giridhar Bail7 October 2019 at 00:46

    joshimat is way before badhrinath...... tough conditions... Be safe... Do not travel when it rains.... That is when you have landslides..

    ReplyDelete

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