Sunday, 19 MAY 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN/UTTARKASHI
Since it was reopened to devotees, a record 2.15 lakh people have visited Kedarnath in a period of eight days. According to information provided by the Rudraprayag district administration on Saturday, a large number of pilgrims have been reaching Kedarnath since its reopening on May 10. In the eight days since the temple was reopened, 2,15,930 people have paid obeisance at Kedarnath. Out of these pilgrims, 10,070 pilgrims have so far visited Kedarnath by helicopter while 47,806 by horses and mules. Further, 1, 428 people have travelled to Kedarnath by Dandi (palanquin) and 1,851 by Kandi (basket). A total of 1,54,775 pilgrims have trekked to Kedarnath so far. Similarly, a record number of pilgrims have visited Gangotri and Yamunotri with the number crossing two lakh on Saturday. In Chamoli district, 92, 702 people have visited Badrinath since it was reopened on May 12.
The authorities claimed that consistent efforts are being undertaken by the State government, district administration and police for providing necessary facilities and arrangements for pilgrims to Kedarnath. Adequate number of police personnel have been deployed on the Yatra route for the security of the pilgrims. In case of any injury or medical issue the teams of the security personnel are transporting the pilgrims to the nearest medical point. The serious patients are being referred to the higher centres for treatment.
In the Uttarkashi district, more than two lakh people are estimated to have visited Gangotri and Yamunotri temples so far since they were reopened on May 10. The authorities claimed that regulating the pilgrimage has prevented crowding at one time in these temples despite the high number of pilgrims. With the gate and one-way systems being used to regulate vehicular traffic successfully, the authorities are also considering reducing the holding area and holding time. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had himself visited the district on Friday to check the pilgrimage arrangements and had also interacted with the pilgrims. On Friday, 15,800 people visited Yamunotri which is the highest number of visitors in a single day till
now. Similarly, 14,010 people visited Gangotri on Friday. A total of 1,86,275 people had visited Gangotri and Yamunotri till Friday and this number increased to 2,12,914 on Saturday with 1,11,473 visiting Yamunotri and 1,01,441 visiting Gangotri so far.
