70 police posts to be set up en route: IGP

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 19

IGP Sanjay Gunjiyal has said that around 70 permanent and temporary police posts and check posts will be set up along the Char Dham Yatra route before reopening of the portals of sacred shrines in the state.

He said out of 70 police posts, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)-trained personnel equipped with latest communication and digging equipment would be deployed at seven posts along the yatra route.

Gunjiyal instructed the SPs of Chamoli, Tehri, Pauri, Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi district respectively to remain vigilant when the yatra starts again during his visit to Kedarnath and Badrinath shrines.

He instructed them to hold a series of paramedical and life-saving emergency medical care training to police personnel.

Gunjiyal directed the SPs to ensure deployment of police personnel and additional SDRF personnel at disaster-prone areas at Sirobagad and Lambagad.

He said 150 SDRF and 500 police personnel would be deployed along the route.

Gunjiyal said strict instructions had been given to the SPs of Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri, Uttarkashi, Pauri etc to heavily challan taxi operators, hotel operators, private clinics, mule and palanquin operators, porters etc if they were found guilty of charging more than fixed rates.

He said strict departmental action would be taken against police officers found absent from duty without informing the authority concerned. The IGP said special focus had been laid on ensuring disruption-free traffic movement along the yatra route.

Sacred portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri are scheduled to reopen on April 21 while the portals of the Kedarnath and Badrinath shrines will reopen on April 24 and April 26 respectively.

The IGP told SPs of the respective districts to send SMSes on weather forecast, flow of pilgrims, hospitals, inns, hotels, traffic etc to pilgrims who undertake the yatra and ensure their safety. He instructed the district police to remain vigilant in case some mishap occurred.