After a brief halt in the pilgrimage to Badrinath, the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand is reported to be continuing without incident. With the road to the Badrinath temple township being clear for traffic more than 2,11,ooo persons have visited Badrinath so far. More than 1, 62,000 people have visited the Kedarnath shrine, according to officials.
According to information received from the Rudraprayag district emergency operation centre, till May 21, a total of 1,62,654 pilgrims had visited the Kedarnath shrine. The Rishikesh-Kedarnath national highway number 109 is open for small and large vehicles upto Gaurikund. The bridle path from Sonprayag to Kedarnath is also open. Similarly, according to information provided by the Chamoli district emergency operation centre, a total of 2,11,220 people had visited Badrinath till May 21. The Rishikesh-Badrinath national highway number 58 is open for small and large vehicles upto to the temple township of Badrinath.
In the Uttarkashi district, more than one lakh pilgrims each have visited the Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines. As per the information provided by the Uttarkashi district emergency operation centre, till May 21 a total of 1, 39, 286 pilgrims had visited the Gangotri shrine while a total of 1, 52, 195 pilgrims had visited the Yamunotri shrine. The Rishikesh-Gangotri national highway number 108 is open for small and large vehicles upto Gangotri. The Rishikesh-Yamunotri national highway 94 is also open for small and large vehicles upto Janakichatti. On Monday the state meteorological centre also forecast that heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Nainital and Pithoragarh districts during the next 24 hours.
Considering this the State Government and pilgrims undertaking the Char Dham Yatra have been advised to remain watchful and observe basic precautions.