Excavation Threatens Sacred Sites: Alaknanda Water Level Rises Alarmingly

An excavation project along Alaknanda River near Badrinath temple triggered a flood-like situation on Monday, briefly submerging sacred sites Brahmakapal and Taptkund. Devotees were terrified as the water level rose from 4 pm till late evening. Local administration had been warned, but no action was taken.

An ongoing excavation project along the banks of the Alaknanda River created a flood-like situation late Monday, briefly submerging the sacred sites of Brahmakapal and reaching the boundaries of Taptkund close to the Badrinath temple, causing widespread panic among devotees.

Eyewitnesses reported that the Alaknanda River, which flows just a few meters below the Himalayan temple, was in spate from 4 pm till late evening, terrifying devotees with its furious currents. Notably, Taptkund is a group of hot sulphur springs with medicinal qualities where devotees bathe before paying obeisance at the temple, and Brahmakapal is on the riverbank where offerings are made in memory of ancestors.

Temple priests and environmentalists had repeatedly raised concerns about the possible dangers of the ongoing construction under the Badrinath masterplan, a dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Heavy debris from the excavation works has been dumped into the river, narrowing its flow and creating the conditions that led to Monday's scare. Despite multiple warnings from experts and temple authorities, no preventive action was taken, putting sacred sites and devotees at risk.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)