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-   -   To Yamunotri & Gangotri: Witnessed Landslides, Cloudburst, Floods & Traffic Jams (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travelogues/137995-yamunotri-gangotri-witnessed-landslides-cloudburst-floods-traffic-jams-4.html)

Some more info about Vishwanath temple.












Some more pic of Town & damaged bridge



















After clicking these pics, we went to inquire about diesel availability. Hard-luck it was out of stock. Inquire for nearest pumps , he told there are three on the way to Rishikesh , one at Matli , second one at Chinyali and third at Chamba. This raised hope that some were of these three pumps i will get fuel.

Returned to hotel by 3pm. Lunch was already served. Post lunch we were confined to our rooms for the day. No electricity, No TV, No internet was totally boring. Most favorite pass-time was eat & sleep. Gen-sets were only being operated between 7.30 pm to 10:30 pm to conserve diesel. Water usage was also regulated as supply was cutoff.

While at dinner doc updated that he spoke to DM Uttarkashi , tentatively the roads will be restored only by Wednesday or Thursday that too if it not rains further. I was relieved that least we will be able to move out in 2-3 days. So Monday to also ends waiting.

I'm sure the gushing waters sound & fury must have kept you awake at night? Thank god you and your family are safe.

Yes Ford5. Gushing water surely is very noisy. Upto Sunday we do had problems but after that one get used to it.


here is link for video.
http://youtu.be/CnBUY-bpAHo

Very distressing. Really relieved to see you and your family after an experience like that.

Day 6 - Tuesday - 18 June - Trek to Kandar Devta Temple @ Sangrali Village

Today we were greeted by clear & bright sunny day. Water levels in Bhagirathi were also receding slowly.

During our breakfast we were thinking of how to pass the day, my daughter suggested "trekking pe chale". Even i thought that a good idea for the day as we have been told that the roads might be ready only by Wednesday noon . Hence it was unanimously decided to go for a half day trek to nearby.

Hotel manager suggested about Kandar Devta Temple @ Sangrali Village which is about 6 kms. We decided to give it a try. Doc & his family too joined us.

We all set out by 11. The weather was fine and sunny. First 1.5 kms was tarred to which was leading to forest deptt office. After that it was mud path which had a small stream flowing (rain water) alongside. We crossed about 3-4 villages with about 10-20 houses in each village. Most of them were curiously looking at us. Once we start speaking to them and inquire about the temple they became friendly. Couple of villagers came along with us.

We trekked about 4+ kms in by 1 pm. This was the second last village "Bagyal". Another 1.5 kms more for the temple. We took a break about 30 min there. Lot of local villagers came to meet us. Since the locals were also with us , they did the talking. We were offered tea too. As chatting to them, we came to know that the last 1.5 kms is very steep and slippery due to the rains. They advised us not to venture further venture kids.

Hence we decided to return from there. Spent some more time chit chatting with them. The villagers told us that Kandar Devta is local diety of the Uttarkashi & around. Kandar was a Gana of Lord Shiva.

By 1.30 we started our descend and were at our hotel by 3.30 pm. Must say it was a wonderful experience and that 4-5 hrs we all completely forgot that we are stranded here since Sunday. A very memorable experience. People are so warm and friendly.

This way another day passed through. Usually evening were busy as we had power only between 7.30 to 10.30. So everyone is busy with charging mobiles , laptops ect.

Some pics of the trek

Water fall about 500 mtrs from hotel


Snale - I was seeing one after a long time.


View of Gangori Village (While going towards Gangotri) . Roads were swept here

Day 7 - Wednesday - 19 June - Hotel Shivlinga

Wokeup early with expectation of getting out of Uttarkashi. Was sitting and enjoying the view of River Bhagirathi. Water has receded considerably. As usual we all assembled at the restaurant after breakfast. Everyone was cheerful and happy hoping to leave for Delhi. We were expecting some good news by 11-12 pm.

Time passed on & even after 12 no updates. Couple of guys went to the town to inquire the status of work. Update was still work in progress at Dharasu. It might be ready only by 2-3 pm. This waiting was getting on nerves as if it opens late then we cant travel even today also.

Post lunch Me & Doc about 3 pm went to get another update. Went to the local PS where we came to know that road will be opened only after 4 pm as there is still pending work at Dharasu and even at Matli. At Matli the road was sinking as vehicles passed through the temporary road. Hence they are putting more rubbles. Also they don't have the confirm new about Tehri too. They told the roads have been washed away there too.

We came back dejected as we know even if the roads are opened today we will not be able to drive to Rishikesh or Delhi. Post tea we about 3 families decided to drive tomorrow early morning and will face hurdles as it comes on. it was enough waiting as we knew worst case we have to return to our hotel again. Hence it was decided that we leave by 6 am.

So evening we all were busy packing. Around 10.30 the hotel manager too confirmed that land slide at Dharasu has been cleared and we can leave by 10 - 1030 morning. But we had already decided to leave early to avoid rush. He also conveyed that only small vehicle will be allowed. Mini buses will have to wait for another 2-3 days.

Map of UK


Clear & Sunny Day

Day 8 - Thursday - 20 June - Uttarkashi to Delhi

Today Morning our hotel was buzzing with activity. We all were ready by 5.30-5.45. Couple more families too were getting ready to leave. Had our morning tea, settled the bills at hotel and stated by 6.20 am. We all were praying for a safe journey.

Crossed the tunnel and the first sigh of relief, we could see couple ofl taxis coming from opposite side. Asked them about the road condition and got positive answer. Another big relief was to know availability of diesel at Matli. We moved on slowly as the roads were broken and were full of potholes. After about a KM or so we saw the first place of landslide. It was like an over-sized speed-breaker. The road were narrow , honked couple of time as could not see traffic from opposite and moved on. I was feeling little scary seeing the mountains than the roads. Move on slowing over the temporary road to cross our first hurdle. Roads were washed away from multiple places.




















After this we quickly reached Matli town which is about 13 kms from our Hotel. There were about 7-8 vehicle in queue at pump and it took good 40 minutes as there was only 1 dispensing unit. Moving on from matli we witness couple of landslide area. By 8.30 am we were at Dunda, again there was a major landslide here too. The roads were partially washed away. Some repair work was in progress we had to wait here for about 20 min. This section was also bad. This section was tricky and i felt foot steps go hit couple of times crossing this section.





















Our next point was Dharasu and it took about 40 minutes to reach there. The 3-4 kms section took 30 min as we had to give side to traffic from opposite also. Once we crossed Dharasu, took a small tea break and moved on.

Great insight into what happened in the UK, we were all waiting for you yesterday at Gurgaon meet to know further from you in person. We missed you.

In fact I want to tell all that I have been going to Sri Hemkunt Sahib in Uttaranchal for the last 35 years, and this year we and our other jathas cancelled our plans.First time in 35 years.The residents of Govindghat and many old aged persons say they have never seen rains of this type.

Pls, go to Tilak Soni threads and see for yourself how gangotri mandir looks like in the month of Jan,full of snow and not a soul in the market and hotels.
Just one poojari to take care of the mandir.

Mod Note : Please quote ONLY the relevant bits of a post. Quoting a full, long post inconveniences our mobile readers.

Thanks!

Thanks jaksons. my meeting got delayed than expected hence could not join you guys. looking forward to meet you all on next meet.


Iqbal, you were really lucky not to be there at that time. Clips of Govindghat are hair-raising. I have seen those clips of Gangotri. Its only in May -June when its crowded. For people like us with kids studying, there is no other option apart from this period.

Immediately after Dharasu, we were greeted with another muddy section. it was looking very slushy and to our bad luck there was a wagon-r in front of us. The driver was in double mind to cross the section initially. We were waiting for him to move. I had to honk him couple to make the wagon-r move. I had a bad feeling seeing the approach and as expected got stuck immediately as it entered. I could see lot of wheel spin. In frustration got down and went up to the vehicle , was surprised to see a lady along with 8-9 year old kid on the driver seat. I could see the panicked face. I tried to calm her down, i explained to keep the momentum to cross the section and don't stop even if wheel spins. We all had to push out the Wagon-r. Luckily it worked and we all had a sigh of relief. Thanked god and our convoy moved on. Lost another 15-20 mins in the process.






On the outskirts of Chinyalisaur we were greeted again with another section of washed way road. Our convoy crossed it slowly. As there was negligible opposite traffic we all were able to move on without much obstruction.












Next 25 odd kms were quick. None of use noticed that there was no opposite traffic after Chinyalisaur. With in another 5 to 10 minutes our convoy was greeted with a long jam. All we could see is a long line of vehicles. For the first 20 minutes we were just not moving. Also could not see actually how long or what was the issue. Then slowly we reached the visibility point where we could see the cause of jam. Roads were washed away here too, jam was created by opposite traffic + narrow road at the turn.













Hairpin curve was washed away and instead now the temporary road was a "V" shaped which was very narrow. Barely vehicles could turn hence every vehicle need about 1-2 minutes to turn there. It took a good 1 hr and 20 minutes to cross the section.












After this there were no hurdles all the way. The progress was slow due to bad roads and slush. By 2.30 pm we were at Chamba where we took our much needed break.

















After a quick lunch we resumed our drivethon. Roads were bad in sections mostly due to slide and water. By 5 we crossed Haridwar , we could see lots of stilt deposit on ghats. We crossed Roorkee 5.45 pm , then Muzzaffar nagar and stop for our second break at Mcd about 7.15 pm. Road till muzzaffar nagar bypass was horrible with lots of pot holes and some huge craters.





Our convoy moved on after a break of 40 min and decided drove nonstop all the way to delhi. We reached home by 11 pm. Was feeling releived and thaked all gods again and our beast too for his services.



Summary

Start 0 0 - 06:20
Matli : 13 13 - 07:00
Dunda : 10 23 - 08:30
Dharasu 14 37 - 10:15
ChinyaliSaur 6 43 - 11.00
Kandasaur 18 61 - 11:40
Major Jam 15 76 - 13:00
Chamba - 36 112 2:30 (Lunch break)

Narendra Nagar - 46 158 15:45
Haridwar - 39 197 16:50
Roorkee : 34 231 - 1745
MCD after Muzzaffar Ngr : 74 305 1920
Delhi : 131 436 23:00

Total 436 kms in 16.5 hrs

Hello V&V,

Thank God that you & your family reached home safely after witnessing all those descruction all around you.

Appreciate the way you kept your cool in panic situation & managed make the most while you were struck at the hotel. Also hats off to those labourers who kept on working & re-building the temporary roads for vehicles to pass.

The series of pictures that demonstrates the big house falling (on other side of the river bank) was really heart breaking for me. I mean it takes almost a lifetime in India to build a dream home & just one cloud burst to destroy it to nothingness.

Thanks,

Thanks Jignesh, even i felt the same witnessing and was nervous too for next 2 days as our hotel too was just about 50 ft from the river.

Hi ,

I was really glued to this travelogue. I rate this a well deserved 5-star. I am happy that you and your family are safe, at the same time my heart goes out to the people affected and stranded there. Seeing the roads there itself is scary because they are so narrow and uneven. It would take time to restore the place back I guess.

Anyways, drive safe.

Cheers