Amid the ongoing Char Dham Yatra, Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swaroop on Monday said the pilgrimage is progressing smoothly, with over 35.66 lakh devotees having visited the four shrines for darshan till June 14.
One of India's most important religious pilgrimages, the Char Dham Yatra began on April 22 with traditional rituals at the sacred shrines. The Kedarnath Yatra commenced with the ceremonial departure of Lord Kedarnath's Panchmukhi palanquin from the Omkareshwar Temple, its winter abode.
Swaroop said nearly 50 lakh devotees have registered for the Yatra so far. He said over 35.66 lakh pilgrims had completed the pilgrimage by Sunday. While the initial rush has eased, devotees are now able to have darshan more comfortably and the Yatra is continuing without major disruptions.
He said district administrations have made extensive arrangements at all four dhams to ensure a smooth pilgrimage experience for devotees.
Swaroop said traffic management measures have been strengthened along the Yatra route. Eighteen holding areas have been established where pilgrims can access drinking water, toilet facilities and food stalls. He also noted that the India Meteorological Department has not predicted any adverse weather conditions over the next three to four days.
The pilgrimage routes have been divided into various sectors and zones, with officials deployed across these areas to keep a close watch on arrangements and movement of pilgrims.
In addition, authorities are monitoring the Yatra from district headquarters through CCTV cameras and other surveillance systems to ensure safety and effective crowd management.
Earlier on June 12, the Uttarakhand Transport Department carried out inspections along the Kedarnath Yatra route to verify vehicle permits, check passenger loads and ensure compliance with mandatory transport regulations.
Assistant Regional Transport Officer Dharmendra Singh Bisht said the department has been conducting regular enforcement drives since April. He said 539 challans have been issued so far, generating around Rs 30.5 lakh in revenue.
He added that in May alone, officials issued 1,140 challans and collected approximately Rs 12.5 lakh in penalties during the enforcement campaign.
Bisht said the Transport Department has intensified vehicle checks in Rudraprayag district under the directions of the district administration. He urged pilgrims to travel cautiously, keep weather conditions in mind and remain patient while undertaking the Char Dham Yatra.
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