At Kedarnath, hope and despair among returning residents

Early this morning, several regional residents and shop owners of Kedarnath arrived at the revered 6th century shrine along with former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. The residents had evacuated Kedarnath just after tragedy struck in June and this was the first time they managed to return. Many of them, while overjoyed to know that prayers had resumed at the ancient shrine, were soon in despair when they had to wade through debris and rubble to reach their homes and shops, which they had left behind nearly three months ago.