Kedarnath, June 17 (IANS) Tributes were paid to those who lost their lives in the Kedarnath disaster on its 13th anniversary at a condolence meeting organised at Kedarnath Dham on Wednesday, and prayers were offered for the peace of the departed souls.

Remembering the devastating disaster of June 16-17, 2013, a joint condolence meeting was organised at Kedarnath Dham by the Kedarsabha, the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee, the administration, and the community of priests (Panda-Purohits). During the event, tributes were paid to those who died or went missing in the disaster, and a two-minute silence was observed in prayer for the peace of their souls.

Kedarsabha President Rajkumar Tiwari stated that the 2013 disaster remains one of the most tragic events in Uttarakhand’s history. On the 13th anniversary of the calamity, tributes were paid to all the departed souls, and condolences were extended to their families. He emphasised that the lessons learned from this tragedy must always be remembered and that humble tributes should be paid to all those who lost their lives in the disaster.

The Kedarnath disaster was triggered by heavy rainfall on June 16-17, 2013, causing a sudden surge in all the rivers and streams flowing on both sides of the temple, including the Mandakini and Saraswati rivers. The floodwaters behind the Kedarnath temple wreaked havoc on the intervening night of June 16-17, claiming numerous lives and causing extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure in the area.

Scientists later revealed that the Kedarnath disaster was caused by a catastrophic combination of meteorological, hydrological, and environmental factors, primarily an unprecedentedly early and intense cloudburst that triggered sudden and massive glacial snowmelt, along with a glacial lake outburst. The moraine-dammed Chorabari Lake, located above Kedarnath, breached, leading to widespread devastation across the region.

It is believed that around 10,000 people were present in the Kedar Valley at the time of the disaster. Even after 13 years, the exact death toll remains unknown. However, official records indicate that approximately 4,400 people were either killed or went missing.

According to government figures, nine national highways, 35 state highways, 86 motor bridges, and 172 small and large bridges were washed away. As a result, communication with more than 4,200 villages in the Kedar Valley was disrupted. Rambara suffered the most extensive damage during the tragedy.

Before 2013, Rambara was a favourite resting place for pilgrims travelling on foot from Gaurikund to Kedarnath. Dozens of hotels, dhabas, shops, dharamshalas, and other facilities provided accommodation to travellers. The area was always bustling with pilgrims, horses and mules, and local merchants, making it a vibrant stop on the pilgrimage route.

–IANS

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