India, June 17 -- The Kedarnath Yatra is among the oldest and sacred pilgrimages in India. Its roots are traced to the time of Adi Shankaracharya, who is believed to have restored the shrine. For pilgrims, it used to be a spiritual journey marked by devotion and endurance rather than mere physical expedition, something I experienced during my tenure as the superintendent of police in Chamoli district in 1994.

However, this pilgrimage has undergone a drastic transformation in the last 10 years. Following the devastating 2013 floods and extensive reconstruction efforts by the government, especially after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the shrine, the Yatra has seen an unprecedented surge in footfall. From a daily average of just 2,50...