UTTARAKAND: Late Monday, ongoing excavation work along the Alaknanda River led to a flood-like situation near Badrinath, causing concern among devotees. The water briefly submerged the Brahmakapal and reached the boundary of Taptkund, close to the revered temple, alarming onlookers. Taptkund, known for its hot sulphur springs, lies between the river and the temple and holds religious significance.

Eyewitnesses reported that from 4 pm onwards, the Alaknanda River surged, creating intense currents that frightened devotees. The rise in water levels washed away debris accumulated from ongoing excavation work under the Badrinath master plan, according to temple priests.

President of the teerth-purohit association, Praveen Dhyani, expressed longstanding concerns about the construction's impact on the temple's safety. Despite repeated appeals to local authorities, including the district magistrate, no action had been taken to address these risks, he stated.

Dhyani, with four decades of association with the organization, noted this was the first instance of such a drastic rise in the Alaknanda's water levels. He attributed the rise to debris dumped into the river during ongoing excavations, which have narrowed its flow.

Notably, sacred rocks at Brahmakapal were submerged for the first time due to the rising water levels, signaling potential dangers for the temple complex. Dhyani emphasized that the ongoing excavations are part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious Badrinath Adhyaatmik Nagar Master Plan.

Renowned environmentalist Chandi Prasad Bhatt, who had previously cautioned about the environmental impacts of the construction, highlighted the direct consequences of such activities on the glacier-fed Alaknanda River. He called for thorough assessments of environmental factors before executing projects in the sensitive Himalayan region.

Chamoli District Disaster Management Officer Nand Kishore Joshi confirmed an alert was issued due to the rising water levels but reported no damages so far.

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