Char Dham Yatra sees record footfall

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 24

The Char Dham Yatra has made a new record this year as nearly 3.5 lakh pilgrims have visited the four shrines so far.

Hoteliers, cab operators and shopkeepers are extremely happy over the huge footfall of pilgrims since the yatra commenced on May 9.

The latest data compiled by the state Tourism Department states that the maximum number of pilgrims from across the country (1,21,652) had visited Badrinath shrine, followed by 87,736 pilgrims visiting Gangotri shrine. The Kedarnath shrine registered 77,025 pilgrims, while 63,300 pilgrims have visited Yamunotri shrine in the 14 days of the yatra.

The Gangotri, Yamunotri and Kedarnath shrines were opened on May 9, while Badrinath shrine was opened for pilgrims on May 11. With the Char Dham Yatra beginning with full zeal this year, the state government was in no mood to leave any stone unturned to facilitate the pilgrimage.

BD Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, said reconstructed infrastructure, better facilities, such as telecommunication connectivity, security and parking arrangements, medical and potable water facilities etc, along the yatra route were the main reasons behind the huge footfall of pilgrims.

Damaged roads and bridges were repaired along the yatra route, resulting in smooth vehicular flow of traffic on the national highway.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel have been deployed at key locations along the yatra route to respond swiftly in case of any disaster. Additional police force from Dehradun and Haridwar districts has been deployed to maintain law and order and to decongest traffic along the yatra route. Additional tourist centres have been opened to issue photo identity cards to pilgrims to track them in any situation of crisis.

First batch of pilgrims leaves for Hemkund

The first batch of Sikh pilgrims left for the Hemkund Sahib shrine from Govindghat on Tuesday. Hemkund Shrine Management Trust president Janak Singh flagged off the first batch. Earlier, Ardaas, Shabad and Sukhmani Path were conducted at the Govindghat gurdwara. Brig Devendra Singh, Joshimath SDM Shailendra Singh Negi and a large number of pilgrims were present on the occasion.