The number of pilgrims being encouragingly high this season, SDRF personnel along with local police has been pressed into service to open the roads in case of landslides blocking them along the Char Dham Yatra routes. Pilgrims are being provided with all the basic facilities as well as weather updates through SMSs from time to time. They are also being informed of the condition of the roads to help them avoid inconvenience, said IG Garhwal Range Sanjay Kumar Gunjyal on Tuesday.
Following inclement weather continuing for the past few days, landslides have been reported from various parts of the state. The landslips triggered problems for Char Dham Yatra pilgrims too. To clear the roads promptly of the debris, SDRF personnel have been pressed into service, Gunjyal said.
He further said around five lakh pilgrims have arrived in Uttarakhand for Char Dham Yatra since the yatra was started on May 9. Around two lakh pilgrims have offered prayer at Badrinath while the figures are around one lakh at Kedarnath, 94, 423 at Gangotri and 67, 237 at Yamnotri.
Police administration also provides shelter to the pilgrims at Kedarnath Dham and other important places, he added.
Given the information received from several sources like businessmen, hotel owners, taxi owners and those manning photo-metric registration, the number of pilgrims arriving in Uttarakhand is around fourth times more as compared to the last few years, he said, adding that the administration has taken all possible measures to facilitate the pilgrims to complete their Char Dham Yatra in the state safe and sound.