Monday, 13 MAY 2024 | Gajendra Singh Negi | JOSHIMATH
The world famous Char Dham Yatra considered as the backbone of the economy of Uttarakhand which is also deeply associated with the State’s culture and social fabric has started on a high note with huge crowds of people thronging the sacred shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. However the surging crowds coupled with a spell of rains in mountains has exposed the claims of proper arrangements made by the State government. Traffic jams are being witnessed at many places on the Yatra route making the spiritual journey of the devotees a harrowing ordeal.
The Haridwar-Rishikesh-Devprayag-Srinagar-Rudraprayag road on which the pilgrims heading for Badrinath and Kedarnath travel is witnessing massive traffic jams at many places. Apart from the usual traffic bottlenecks at Rishikesh, Devprayag, Srinagar and other locations, the rains have activated slide zones enroute. The checkposts set up by the authorities have created additional hindrances in the flow of traffic.
The apparent lack of will on part of the administration to manage things on ground has compounded the problems of pilgrims and local residents. The mismanagement of administration and foolhardiness of some of the vehicle drivers who break traffic discipline and lanes has further aggravated the situation.
On Saturday, a five-kilometre long jam was witnessed between Dhari Devi temple and Sirohbagad landslide zone on the Badrinath national highway. Overnight rain had activated the Sirohbadad landslide which partially blocked the road. Two ambulances were also seen trapped in the long serpentine jam of vehicles.The travellers had a harrowing time as their journey became arduously long and painful.
“It took more than 15 hours for us to reach Badrinath from Rishikesh. There was no one to manage the traffic at many places. Complete chaos exists on the entire route,” Sanjay Singh Negi of Dehradun said.
Rajat Sharma of Delhi said that the government should immediately intervene and order the administration to manage traffic and crowds in the Char Dham.
The arrangements made by the administration at the Char Dhams have become inadequate to manage the huge flow of pilgrims. Stampede like situation was witnessed many times in Badrinath on the portal opening day on Sunday.
