INDIA, May 2, 2015 (Daily Pioneer): Despite the Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway-58 being blocked by debris, the pilgrims have continued to travel towards Badrinath, walking from Marwadi to Vishnuprayag bridge en route to Badrinath. Sources said if weather permits, it will still take a few more days for the highway to be cleared and opened for the public. About 6 miles from Joshimath, the National Highway-58 to Badrinath has been closed due to landslides at Hathi Parvat near Marwadi since Tuesday.
However, this has not deterred the devotees from advancing towards the Badrinath shrine. With this stretch of the highway being closed, the pilgrims travelling by road are taking the old bridle path to walk up to Vishnuprayag from where they board vehicles to Badrinath. On Friday, 800 pilgrims walked to Vishnuprayag from here and then proceeded in vehicles towards Badrinath while 700 devotees returned from the shrine.