Uttarakhand CM: Pilgrim safety paramount as rains, landslides disrupt Char Dham Yatra
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Friday that the Char Dham Yatra is being stopped intermittently in view of the safety of pilgrims, as the state continues to experience heavy rainfall and landslides in several regions.
"It has been raining in many places for the last 2-3 days. Rainfall has been reported in Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli. The water level is also rising, and landslides have occurred in some places. In view of this, the Yatra has to be stopped intermittently depending on the situation. Our top priority is the safety of our pilgrims," Dhami told reporters.
He also stated that the administration is ensuring the smooth conduct of the Kanwar Yatra. "The Kanwar Yatra is also going on, and all necessary arrangements have been made for it," he added.
Meanwhile, Executive Engineer of the Irrigation Department, Vikas Tyagi, said the water level of the Ganges at Haridwar is currently above the warning level but has not reached the danger mark. "Since water levels upstream continue to rise, the volume of water may increase further. However, there is no cause for alarm at the moment, as the situation is completely under control," he said.
Tyagi emphasised that the government is fully prepared to handle any situation. "Information is being regularly shared with the downstream plains. Separate flood management divisions and nodal officers have been designated, and every district has its own disaster management system. The government is fully prepared to handle any situation that may arise," he said.
The Char Dham Yatra, which covers the four sacred shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath in the Himalayas, attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every year. During the monsoon months, the region is prone to cloudbursts, landslides, and flash floods, prompting periodic suspensions of the yatra for safety reasons.
The Kanwar Yatra, in which devotees of Lord Shiva carry holy water from the Ganges and offer it at various temples, sees large gatherings during the monsoon season. Authorities in Haridwar have made necessary arrangements, including temporary shelters and medical facilities for pilgrims.
Officials said that district administrations have been placed on alert and are coordinating with the meteorological department to monitor the situation. The State Disaster Response Force has also been kept on standby for any emergency response.
