The Meteorological Department has issued heavy rain warnings on October 18 and 19. In such a situation, instructions have also been issued by the Disaster Management Department to the districts to be on alert. Here, Garhwal Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of Uttarakhand Chardham Devasthanam Management Board, Ravinath Raman has asked all the District Magistrates to be more careful in view of the Chardham Yatra. Disaster Management Sachin SA Murugesan has issued advisory for disaster prevention.
Devasthanam Board Additional Chief Executive Officer BD Singh said that as much as possible help is being provided to the pilgrims in Badrinath Dham. Passengers are being appealed not to come to the Dham. Devasthanam Board’s media in-charge Dr. Harish Gaur said that pilgrims who had reached the Dhams from October 16 were given darshan. They have been asked to remain vigilant as a precaution. There is no official ban on travel. Pilgrims are being temporarily prevented from going ahead at some of the checking points in view of the weather warnings.
Passengers coming to see Kedarnath Dham are being sent back. Also, devotees were stopped in Sonprayag and Gaurikund. They have been banned from going further from here. Passengers were left for Kedarnath from Sonprayag till 11.30 am on Sunday, but the passengers were stopped at Gaurikund as the weather deteriorated. Deputy District Magistrate Jitendra Kumar Verma and Deputy Superintendent of Police Vijendra Doval appealed to Guptkashi not to go ahead with the passengers in Sonprayag.
On the other hand, thousands of pilgrims were present in the temple area since morning in Kedarnath, who were sent back on priority after seeing them. At the same time, in Gaurikund and Sonprayag, District Magistrate Manuj Goyal said that in view of the alert of the Meteorological Department, the journey has been temporarily stopped. Lodges, restaurants and hotels have become full from Guptkashi to Gaurikund in Kedar Ghati. At the same time, in Kedarnath too, the booking of tents including cottages of Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam has been completed.
At the same time, the travelers coming to Uttarakhand from outside states for the Chardham Yatra were appealed not to go ahead by making an announcement at the Narsan border. Police have also increased vigil on the Narsan border. Because, travelers from other states including Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP enter the state border from here. On Sunday, the police informed the passengers about the red alert by making an announcement at the Narsan border. Also appealed to cancel the trip.
After the warning was issued in Rishikesh, the local administration and police have become alert. Tehri Garhwal Police returned two thousand small and big vehicles going on Chardham Yatra from Tapovan and Bhadrakali check posts. Passengers traveling in these vehicles were advised to stay in Rishikesh for two days.
Published Date: October 17, 2021
