Police personnel have been deployed to conduct intensive vehicle checks in the area as part of the security and inspection protocols in place around Badrinath Dham.
Pilgrimage season in Uttarakhand picks up pace as lakhs prepare for Char Dham Yatra, with revised rules, improved safety systems and multiple travel options shaping this year’s journey.
Fearing a shortage of LPG during the upcoming Char Dham Yatra beginning April 19, the Uttarakhand government on Tuesday asked the Centre to provide an additional supply of nearly 50,000 commercial cooking gas cylinders to the state to meet exigencies.
The annual pilgrimage to Kedarnath will commence on April 22 this year, while the sacred Char Dham Yatra will begin on the auspicious occasion of Akshay Tritiya, which falls on April 19. The portals of the Badrinath shrine will open on April 23.
Uttarakhand has suspended the Char Dham and Hemkund Sahib Yatra till September 5 after red and orange alerts for heavy rain. Landslides and flooding risks persist, with two deaths reported on the Kedarnath route. Officials urge pilgrims to avoid travel and follow advisories.
The 24-hour ban on Char Dham Yatra was lifted on Monday, stated officials.
The Uttarakhand government has decided to suspend heli services for the Char Dham Yatra till 16th June, and a probe has been ordered into Saturday's helicopter crash.
As the revered shrine welcomed pilgrims, helicopters showered flower petals over the devotees, adding a divine touch to the auspicious occasion.
Portals of the Kedarnath shrine were opened in the morning as per the celestial calendar time and traditional religious rituals.
Cancelling all 77 registrations of Pakistani Hindus wishing to undertake the Char Dham pilgrimage, state Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj said that terrorism and tourism cannot go hand in hand.
