<p>The army Thursday commenced work to open a new route to the rain-ravaged Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand. <br /><br /></p>.<p>According to officials, the work is being done at the request of the state government and the National Disaster Response Force.<br /><br />With heavy rains again lashing the region, helicopters deployed in relief and supply work have been grounded. The pace of rescuing people who are still missing has also slowed down. <br /><br />The land routes to the hills suffered extensive damage during the cloudburst and flash floods of June 16-17, blocking access by foot to the revered shrine.<br /><br />Kedarnath and its surrounding areas suffered the worst in the natural disaster which has claimed hundreds of lives and left a trail of destruction.<br /><br />A team of soldiers and experts have conducted a reconnaissance of the Kedernath area and started work to open a route along a fresh alignment, the army's Central Command said. <br /><br />"After much difficulty, we were successful in establishing a crossing over the Vasuki Ganga at Sonprayag Wednesday," an official said.<br /><br />The team of 21, including four officers, reached Gomkara and camped there for the night at an altitude of 13,000 feet above sea level.<br /><br />The official told IANS that another team with logistic support Thursday crossed the river at Sonprayag. This team will establish a staging area in the area of Gomkara. </p>
<p>The army Thursday commenced work to open a new route to the rain-ravaged Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand. <br /><br /></p>.<p>According to officials, the work is being done at the request of the state government and the National Disaster Response Force.<br /><br />With heavy rains again lashing the region, helicopters deployed in relief and supply work have been grounded. The pace of rescuing people who are still missing has also slowed down. <br /><br />The land routes to the hills suffered extensive damage during the cloudburst and flash floods of June 16-17, blocking access by foot to the revered shrine.<br /><br />Kedarnath and its surrounding areas suffered the worst in the natural disaster which has claimed hundreds of lives and left a trail of destruction.<br /><br />A team of soldiers and experts have conducted a reconnaissance of the Kedernath area and started work to open a route along a fresh alignment, the army's Central Command said. <br /><br />"After much difficulty, we were successful in establishing a crossing over the Vasuki Ganga at Sonprayag Wednesday," an official said.<br /><br />The team of 21, including four officers, reached Gomkara and camped there for the night at an altitude of 13,000 feet above sea level.<br /><br />The official told IANS that another team with logistic support Thursday crossed the river at Sonprayag. This team will establish a staging area in the area of Gomkara. </p>