Thursday 07, 2021 | PNS | Dehradun /Joshimath
The State government has now removed the condition for pilgrims to secure e-passes online in order to undertake the Char Dham Yatra. The pilgrims will have to register on the Dehradun smart city website and get tested for Covid-19 as earlier. This decision comes a day after the Uttarakhand high court removed the limit on number of pilgrims allowed to undertake the Yatra, following which the State government had issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the pilgrimage.
On Wednesday, the Garhwal commissioner and Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board CEO Ravinath Raman said that pilgrims who are unaware of online registration will be able to get it done for free at the Haridwar and Rishikesh railway stations and bus terminal along with free Covid test. He issued orders for opening registration centres in Haridwar and Rishikesh for this purpose immediately. Raman said that the district magistrates of Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi have also been issued necessary directions. The Rudraprayag DM was told that pilgrims who have already reached to visit the shrine should be sent to Kedarnath after Covid test at Guptkashi, Fata, Sonprayag and Gaurikund. The DMs of Chamoli and Uttarkashi have also been directed to allow pilgrims to visit the Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines without disruption.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday a total of 3,707 pilgrims visited the shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Till 4 PM, a total of 1,275 people had visited the Badrinath shrine. With pilgrimage activity picking up following the latest developments, both the pilgrims and locals involved in various activities connected to the pilgrimage were enthusiastic on Wednesday. According to the Devasthanam Board, till 4 PM on Wednesday, 1,589 people had visited Kedarnath, 376 had visited Gangotri and 484 had visited Yamunotri. From September 18 to October 6, a total of 46,511 pilgrims have visited the Char Dham shrines.
