DEHRADUN, June 2 : Over 29 lakh pilgrims visited the Char Dham shrines in the first 44 days of the Yatra this year, registering a surge of more than three lakh devotees compared to the corresponding period last year.
The portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines reopened for devotees on April 19 this year on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, marking the commencement of the annual Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand.
Kedarnath and Badrinath temples were opened on April 22 and April 23 respectively.
During the first 44 days of the previous Yatra, around 26.34 lakh pilgrims visited the Char Dham shrines, whereas this year the figure has crossed 29.85 lakhs, officials said on Tuesday.
Following this sharp increase in footfall, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed the officials to ensure that the management of the pilgrimage is guided by the core principles of safe travel, smooth darshan and continuous communication.
Reviewing the Yatra arrangements at a high-level meeting in the state secretariat on Tuesday, the chief minister ordered the strict enforcement of a night traffic ban on all Yatra routes between 10 pm and 4 am to ensure pilgrim safety during the upcoming monsoon season.
He also directed the immediate formulation of a comprehensive standard operating procedure (SOP) to manage crowds at the four shrines based on their carrying capacity. Heavy vehicles and trucks carrying essential services will only be permitted to operate during the night, while their movement will remain restricted during the day.
To prevent overcrowding at the shrines, Dhami said pilgrim and vehicle movement should be regulated at holding areas and key checkpoints located downstream whenever a shrine reaches its capacity. Crowd management should be done in a phased manner to prevent disorder at the Himalayan shrines.
He issued directives to ensure adequate parking, food, drinking water, toilets and basic amenities at all holding areas where passengers are stopped.
Dhami noted that pilgrims should not only be stopped during crowd control but they also must be regularly informed about the reasons for the delay, expected waiting times and subsequent arrangements. He instructed police and administrative staff to remain sensitive, polite and cooperative toward the devotees.
The chief minister stressed that passengers should not face an information vacuum under any circumstances. Updated information regarding route blockages, weather updates, traffic jams or darshan delays should be broadcast continuously through public address systems, LED displays and social media and messaging platforms to prevent confusion and dissatisfaction.
Acknowledging that the first phase of the Yatra concluded successfully through coordinated departmental efforts, the chief minister said the second phase presents a greater challenge due to the monsoon and adverse weather conditions.
He called for a highly alert, controlled and scientific approach to Yatra management during this period. He ordered daily reviews of pilgrim feedback, complaints and suggestions to ensure immediate corrective action.
To handle emergencies and road blockages promptly, the chief minister directed the pre-positioning of JCBs, Poclain machines, satellite phones, ambulances and rescue equipment at vulnerable spots. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
