Illegal ‘Glacier Baba’ Shrine Demolished Near Sacred Lake in Uttarakhand

Authorities in Uttarakhand have demolished an illegal shrine built by a self-proclaimed godman, Baba Yogi Chaitanya Akash, near the Devi Kund pond on the Sunderdhunga Glacier. The structure, situated at an altitude of 16,500 feet within the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was deemed unauthorized.

The operation, carried out by a team of police, SDRF, and forest officials, took two days to reach the remote location and was completed on Saturday. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Anurag Arya clarified that the building was a simple one-room structure, not a temple as some reports suggested. Akash had previously been expelled from several areas, including Dwarahat, before settling here.

Locals expressed outrage over Akash’s actions, particularly his use of the culturally significant Devi Kund for frequent bathing, which holds deep religious importance, especially during the Nanda Raja Jaat Yatra, a festival held every 12 years.

Concerns about the godman’s activities were raised in July, but bad weather initially delayed efforts to demolish the structure. Once conditions improved and the building was seen as a threat to the ecologically sensitive zone, authorities proceeded with its removal. No one was present during the demolition, signaling a strong stance on protecting sacred and environmentally fragile areas in Uttarakhand.