PM Modi meditates in cave after offering prayers at Kedarnath
The Prime Minister was expected to also review the reconstruction works in the area.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at the Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand, on Saturday, days before the counting for the Lok Sabha elections on May 23.
The Prime Minister, who landed around 9.30 am, will also review the Kedarpuri reconstruction project. This is his fourth visit to Kedarnath since assuming charge as the prime minister following the BJP’s massive win in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
He will also go to the Badrinath shrine on Sunday during his two-day visit of the state. In Badrinath, he is scheduled to review a beautification project for the shrine area.
“However, it will be his first visit to Badrinath since he became the prime minister five years ago”, said Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) chairman Mohan Prasad Thapaliyal.
“Since then two meditation caves have also come up some one-and-a-half km from the Kedarnath shrine”, Thapaliyal said.
Later in the afternoon, Modi undertook a difficult trek to spend some time meditating at a cave called ‘Dhyan Kutia’. Following heavy rain and cold, arrangements for umbrellas and benches for sitting were made on the trek.
The Prime Minister will spend the night at the ‘Dhyan Kutia’ in Kedarnath and will fly to Badrinath on Sunday. He would return to New Delhi later on Sunday.
Watch | PM Modi offers prayers at Kedarnath, to visit Badrinath next
During his visit stay at Kedarnath Modi would also meet with officials to review Kedarpuri reconstruction project, the foundation stone of which he laid two years ago.
“A fund of ₹75 crore has been released for the beautification project, for which the work began only recently”, Thapaliyal said adding during his visit, he would also share with officials his vision for the beautification project
“Since then Modiji has been personally monitoring the Kedarpuri reconstruction project”, Thapaliyal said adding during his current visit he will review all the five projects.
“About 75% of the Kedarpuri reconstruction project is complete and the remaining works will be completed within the next six months”, Thapaliyal said. The Astha Path (approach road) to the Kedarnath temple, the reconstruction of the shrine area and flood protection works along the Mandakini works have been completed, he said. According to Thapaliyal, flood protection works are currently being undertaken along the river Saraswati.
