Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi reached Kedarnath temple on Friday morning after embarking on a 17-km trek. The shrine which reopened for pilgrims on Friday saw Rahul as one of the first ones to offer prayer.
Complimenting the authorities for restoring the structures, Rahul said, “I came here to pay respect to all those who lost their lives to the flash floods in 2013. I wanted to treak up the same way they did to get here. I also came here to create confidence in the minds of tourists who visit here every year,” he said.
The temple visit is among the many steps being planned by the Congress to showcase its future president. On Thursday, at Gauri Kund, the base camp for trek to Kedarnath Temple, Rahul interacted with people. He is being accompanied by Congresss leader Ambika Soni.
Singer Kailash Kher was also spotted at Kedarnath on pilgrimage as Rahul visits. “I am overwhelmed by the atmosphere here,” said an elated Kher.
The temple was devastated in flash floods two years ago and has since been restored.