BSNL starts 2G services in Hemkund Sahib

Pilgrims to Hemkund Sahib and tourists travelling to Valley of Flowers in Chamoli district will now be able to enjoy 2G mobile services after Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has installed a mobile tower at Ghangaria village. The services will be available within a 4km radius from Ghangaria.

Harshwardhan Nakholiya, junior telecom officer (JTO), BSNL, said, “For the first time, people travelling to Hemkund Sahib will be able to use mobile phones along the yatra route and at the temple as well.”

Ashish Joshi, district magistrate, Chamoli, added, “The mobile tower will provide a boost communication network in the hill and especially the pilgrims will get benefited out of it. Even officials doing chardham duty would be able to use the mobile services,” he added

Valley of Flowers opened for public

Valley of Flowers, known for its rich floral biodiversity, is at a distance of 3 km from Ghangaria that has to be covered through a trek. Nandadevi National Park officials under whose jurisdiction the valley falls asserted that all snow had been removed from the trek route and tourists can now safely trek on the path. “All the culverts on the trek route have also been repaired,” disclosed Man Singh, Director, Nandadevi National Park.

He said taking into account the fragile environs of the region, around 300 tourists would be allowed entry to the valley each day.

Valley of Flowers opens every year on June 1 and closes in October for the winter break. The valley was visited by 10,000 tourists last year. The valley had witnessed large-scale destruction during the 2013 disaster and was opened to the public after three years in 2016. The valley is known for Brahmkamal, the state flower, is found in the region, which has rich faunal diversity like leopard, musk deer and blue sheep.