Char Dham Yatra

Uttarakhand Health DG Dr. Shailja Bhatt informed that approximately 91 pilgrims lost lives during the 2022 Char Dham Yatra. On May 27, Bhatt said, "Most of the pilgrims died due to heart-attacks". Furthermore, highlighting the strengthened medical services compared to earlier, Shailja Bhatt said, for the Char Dham yatra in Uttarakhand, nearly 169 doctors were deployed to treat patients in the course of the yatra, which started on May 3.

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to assist pilgrims in the Char Dham Yatra through its special train. The Yatra has been resumed by the Uttarakhand government on September 18. The Deluxe AC tourist train is launched under the 'Dekho Apna Desh' program to ensure tourists have appropriate amenities. Char Dham Yatra is to last for 16 days. The tour begins at the Safdarjung Railway Station in Delhi.

Uttarakhand government took a decision late-night to postpone the Char Dham Yatra with immediate effect till further orders. Earlier, High Court had ordered to hold the Char Dham Yatra, but the state government went against it. The government has now issued a fresh set of COVID-19 guidelines for pilgrimage with the first phase of Yatra, which would have begun from July 1 and with the second phase to commence from July 11.

The Char Dham yatra was cancelled due to the COVID-19 surge in the country. However, the Char Dham Devasthanam board has planned a virtual visit for the devotees. Amid pandemic, the local population is also prohibited in the temples. Dilip Javalkar, Uttarakhand Tourism Secretary asserted that the outline of the virtual tour is being fixed. This will take the devotees through Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri Dhams virtually.

Concerning the COVID-19 second wave, Uttarakhand HC on April 21, has directed the government to release Standard Operating Procedure on conducting Char Dham Yatra, scheduled from May 14. Recently, in Kumbh Mela the pilgrims openly flouted COVID-19 guidelines creating panic. Chief Justice RS Chauhan and Justice Alok Kumar Verma have asked the state government to establish mobile testing vans and build hospitals with support from the central… read-more