In Uttarakhand, the ongoing Char Dham Yatra is witnessing an overwhelming influx of pilgrims. Since the sacred pilgrimage began on April 30, over 10 Lakh devotees have visited the holy shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri within just twenty days.
According to official data, around four lakh pilgrims have visited Kedarnath, two lakh pilgrims have reached Badrinath, and more than 3 lakh sixty-five thousand have paid obeisance at Gangotri and Yamunotri combined.
To ensure a smooth and safe pilgrimage, the state government and administration have made extensive preparations this year. Health camps, mobile medical units, and 108 ambulance services have been deployed across all four shrines. Adequate arrangements for drinking water, sanitation, cleanliness, and rest areas have also been made for the pilgrims.
Additionally, a special monitoring system has been activated to enhance safety during the yatra. Traffic management, weather alerts, and emergency response teams have been strategically positioned along the pilgrimage routes and at the shrines to provide prompt assistance in case of any emergencies.
Kedarnath Dham, opened on May 2, continues to attract large numbers, with 206,159 visits recorded. On May 10, 18,205 pilgrims paid their respects, including 11,563 men, 6,403 women, and 239 children.
Badrinath Dham, opened on May 4, has recorded 1,03,193 pilgrims. May 10 saw 13,026 devotees, consisting of 7,475 men, 4,998 women, and 553 children.
On May 10, while the state government temporarily suspended helicopter services for several hours amidst border defence tensions, the services resumed later that day and are running successfully. The yatra is scheduled for six months.