Story highlights
Self-styled godman Baba Yogi Chaitanya Akash has claimed that he received divine instructions to construct the temple at the eco-sensitive area in the mountains.
A self-styled godman quietly built an unauthorised temple on govt land at over 5,000 metres (16,500 feet) on the Sunderdhunga glacier in Bageshwar, Uttarakhand.
Officials are investigating the unauthorized construction.
Self-styled godman Baba Yogi Chaitanya Akash has claimed that he received divine instructions to construct the temple at the eco-sensitive area in the mountains.
Mahendra Singh Dhami, a villager informed Times of India, “The Baba influenced villagers to support the temple building project.” He informed that Baba said, “Devi Bhagwati appeared in his dreams and directed him to build the temple at Devi Kund.”
It may be mentioned here, the man has also been seen bathing in the kund, a spot considered sacred by pilgrims and locals. Many find this disrespectful and a defilement of the holy site.
While another local resident said, “This is profanity. For generations, our deities have visited the kund during the Nanda Raj Yatra every 12 years, which is a scared spot. Now, this so-called baba has misled villagers and established this temple and disregarded our traditions.”
However, the local administration has now launched an investigation into the unauthorised construction.
Kapkot sub-divisional magistrate Anurag Arya said a team from the forest department, police, and revenue office will soon visit Devi Kund to remove the encroachment and take suitable action against Yogi Chaitanya.
“We have received information about this the mandir’s construction. A team is being dispatched to review the situation at the location,” said ND Pandey, ranger, Glacier Range.
The unauthorised temple has exposed a critical gap in intelligence gathering and enforcement. This is particularly concerning given the ongoing government campaign to remove illegal structures in sensitive areas.
Locals and officials are worried about the ease with which unauthorized individuals can operate undetected in these zones.
(With inputs from agencies)
