Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra on Wednesday said extensive security arrangements have been made to ensure a safe and smooth Kedarnath Dham Yatra for pilgrims. The measures have been implemented following directions issued by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
Mishra said the Chief Minister has clearly instructed officials to make sure pilgrims do not face any inconvenience during the Yatra and that security remains strong at every level. He added that authorities have received information that some individuals disguised as sadhus may be involved in anti-social activities and could attempt to disturb peace in the area.
He said officials have received inputs about certain people posing as sadhus while allegedly engaging in activities that could create unrest. Authorities are taking these alerts seriously to prevent any disruption during the pilgrimage.
“In view of this, I have directed the district police to launch ‘Operation Kalanemi’ and carry out verification of all suspicious individuals. If any evidence is found against anyone, strict legal action will be taken to maintain law and order and ensure pilgrims can travel without difficulty,” Mishra said.
Earlier, Mishra informed that a fully operational control room has been set up at the district administration office to closely monitor the entire Yatra route.
“Our main control room is functioning from the district administration office. Over 90 CCTV cameras have been installed along the trekking route, allowing continuous monitoring from Kedarnath Dham to the Rudraprayag administration. A dedicated command and control centre has also been established at Shri Kedarnath Dham,” he said.
He added that he is personally reviewing preparations along with senior police officials, including the Superintendent of Police, to ensure that all arrangements remain effective throughout the pilgrimage. Mishra further said that the command and control centre at Kedarnath Dham will strengthen real-time monitoring and help authorities respond quickly to any situation.
Continuous announcements are being made through the control room urging devotees to follow safety rules while travelling on the trekking route. Officials have been deployed round the clock to monitor movement and provide immediate assistance whenever required.
The district administration has urged tha pilgrims to follow all instructions issued by authorities and cooperate fully to ensure a safe and hassle-free pilgrimage experience.
The inspection team also visited the “Har Har Mahadev” community kitchen (bhandara), where officials reviewed food quality and overall arrangements for devotees. Special attention was given to maintaining hygiene standards and ensuring an organised food distribution system.
Meanwhile, a record number of pilgrims have already visited the shrine in the first week itself to seek blessings of Baba Kedar, reflecting high spiritual participation in the Char Dham Yatra.
The Char Dham Yatra, one of India’s most important religious pilgrimages, officially started on April 19 with rituals held across different shrines. The annual Kedarnath pilgrimage started with the ceremonial departure of Lord Kedarnath’s Panchmukhi palanquin from its winter seat at Omkareshwar Temple.
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