Dehradun: The Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand is witnessing a strong turnout this year, with more than 47 lakh devotees visiting the four Himalayan shrines in just 114 days despite the challenges posed by the monsoon.
As of Monday, August 10, a total of 47,02,703 pilgrims had visited Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. This is 4,68,556 more than the 42,34,147 devotees recorded during the corresponding period last year.
The figures indicate that the annual pilgrimage is on course for another strong season, even as heavy rainfall, landslide risks and changing weather conditions continue to pose challenges for pilgrims and the administration.
Among the four shrines, Badrinath has recorded the highest footfall so far, with 16,12,112 devotees visiting the temple. Kedarnath follows with 14,50,116 pilgrims, while Gangotri and Yamunotri have recorded 7,37,629 and 6,62,347 visitors, respectively.
In addition, 2,40,499 devotees have visited Hemkund Sahib during the pilgrimage season.
Despite adverse weather conditions and administrative advisories, 15,376 pilgrims visited the four Char Dham shrines on Monday alone. Badrinath recorded the highest number of visitors for the day at 9,559, followed by Kedarnath with 4,170, Gangotri with 1,204 and Yamunotri with 443.
The Char Dham Yatra began this year on April 19 with the opening of the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri. The Badrinath pilgrimage began on April 23 and completed 110 days on August 10.
Badrinath has also recorded a substantial increase compared with the same period last year, with 3,50,192 more devotees having visited the shrine so far.
Safety remains a major concern as the pilgrimage enters the monsoon-affected period. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed officials to keep the safety of pilgrims as the top priority and regulate the movement of devotees whenever weather conditions become risky.
Dhami said the Disaster Management Department was maintaining round-the-clock preparedness because of the active monsoon. District Magistrates have been instructed to remain alert so that relief and rescue operations can be launched without delay if an emergency occurs.
He also urged pilgrims to check weather conditions and follow official advisories before beginning or continuing their journey.
The administration has made arrangements for accommodation, food and security along the pilgrimage routes. Security and emergency personnel have been deployed at locations vulnerable to landslides, while the Chief Minister is monitoring the situation through the State Disaster Control Room.
The sharp rise in pilgrim numbers highlights the continued popularity of Uttarakhand’s sacred Himalayan circuit, but it also puts additional pressure on infrastructure and emergency services. With monsoon conditions remaining unpredictable, maintaining a balance between facilitating the pilgrimage and ensuring the safety of visitors will remain a key challenge for the state in the weeks ahead.
With inputs from IANS