Wednesday, 02 October 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Char Dham Yatra has picked up pace again with the rainfall halting in the State. According to official sources, there is considerable enthusiasm among pilgrims due to the better management of the pilgrimage and safety measures put in place by the State government. On Monday, a total of 20,497 pilgrims visited the Char Dham shrines with the maximum number- 7,350 visiting Kedarnath. About 38 lakh pilgrims have visited the Char Dham temples so far this year. The manner in which the State government put in all its resources to restore arrangements after the Kedar valley disaster has strengthened the confidence of the pilgrims in the government, officials said.
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has accorded top priority to the safety of the pilgrims. It will be recalled that a major disaster was witnessed in the Kedar valley on July 31. The manner in which the government handled the disaster has been appreciated by the pilgrims. The pilgrims stranded on the bridle path and halts on the Kedarnath route were rescued along with the local residents without delay. The authorities rescued about 18,000 persons and transported them safely to their destinations. Restoring routine life in the valley, the bridle path was repaired and the pilgrimage was resumed. Officials stated that the second phase of the Char Dham Yatra is now picking up pace. A considerable number of people have registered for the pilgrimage in October and November. On Monday, 22,224 persons visited the Char Dham along with Gaumukh and Hemkund. These included 6,811 pilgrims who visited Badrinath while 3,619 visited Gangotri, 2,717 visited Yamunotri, 1,632 visited Hemkund and 115 visited Gaumukh.
The authorities believe that the number of pilgrims visiting Char Dham Yatra this year will set a record. Till September 30, 37.91 lakh pilgrims had visited the Char Dham while 56.13 lakh pilgrims had visited the Char Dham during the entire pilgrimage season last year. Similarly, 46.29 lakh people had visited the Char Dham in 2022 while 34.77 lakh had visited the Char Dham in 2019. During 2020 and 2021, 3.30 lakh and 5.29 lakh had visited the Char Dham shrines respectively with the Covid-19 pandemic causing a considerable drop in pilgrim numbers. The Char Dham Yatra started on May 10 this year compared to April 23 last year.
As part of measures taken for better management of the pilgrimage, 20 parking lots have been made on the Kedarnath route and a QR code based system has been used for parking management. Further, 850 CCTV cameras and eight drones are also being used to keep an eye on the pilgrimage. A total of 56 tourism assistance centres have been set up to help the pilgrims while 657 sanitation workers have been deployed to keep the trek clean. Apart from this, the Health department has set up 50 screening kiosks on the pilgrimage route. A total of 156 ambulances have been deployed on the pilgrimage route while eight blood banks and two storage units have also been established.
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that a convenient, safe and well organised Yatra is the State government’s top priority. “Our government is committed to ensuring a safe environment for the pilgrims. The Char Dham Yatra is also linked to the State’s economy. We will have to further expand the facilities considering the rapid pace at which the pilgrim numbers are increasing. Steps are being taken for this purpose,” he said.
