Dehradun: Despite making all the efforts to control the crowds in all Char Dham shrines, the Uttarakhand government is still on toes due to every day record-breaking footfall of pilgrims. In view of better management, the state government has extended the date of VIP darshan till 10 June.
CS Radha Raturi wrote letter to state governments
Uttarakhand government has written a letter to the states and union territories for not sending any dignitary or VIP person on Char Dham yatra till this date. State chief secretary Radha Raturi wrote a letter on Thursday to chief secretaries of all the states and union territories to inform them in this regard. She also thanked the CS of other states through her letter for cooperation in disseminating the information about mandatory registration on https://registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in/ for visiting holy shrines in Uttarakhand.
This has reduced the rush of pilgrims
Through this letter, CS Radha Raturi also indicated that due to dissemination of information, the rush of pilgrims and administration has been able to manage the Char Dham yatra effectively. She wrote, “I would further request that dignitaries and state officials be advised to avoid going to the Char Dham yatra till 10 June.
Earlier, govt banned VIP darshan till 31 May
Seeing unmanageable crowds and chaos at the shrines, the state government has taken the decision to put a check on VIP darshan till 31 May. On 16 May, the state government had written a letter to the chief secretaries of all states and union territories and informed them that state government had decided not to make any VIP darshan till 31 May.
More than 13 lakhs pilgrims visited the shrines
The char Dham yatra in Uttarakhand commenced on 10 May and by Wednesday evening, more than 13 devotees have visited the shrines. Out of these, 5.5 lakh in Kedarnath, 2.8 lakh in Badrinath, 2.4 lakhs in Yamunotri and 2.3 lakhs in Gangotri have visited in the last 20 days. According to tourism department data, over 34 lakhs pilgrims have registered themselves for the Char Dham yatra this year.
