Footfall increases as Char Dham Yatra continues amid snowfall in Uttarakhand

Help desks of various departments like police, medical-health, transport, tourism, municipal corporation, Devasthanam Board and Travel Administration Organization are helping passengers in Rishikesh.

Even as heavy snowfall and rain battered most parts of the hilly state, the pilgrimage to Char Dham in Uttarakhand continues amid snowfall in the state, informed Devasthanam Management Board on Monday.

The snowfall has started in the high peaks of Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham. The cold also increased in the low-lying areas including both the places of Uttarkashi district.  The roads and the helipad here have been covered with a layer of snow and the clearing operations are in process near Kedarnath Shrine, ANI reported.

Due to extensive snowfall, helicopter services have been affected in the area. Meanwhile, the road to Badrinath Shrine is smooth.

Help desks of various departments like police, medical-health, transport, tourism, municipal corporation, Devasthanam Board and Travel Administration Organization are helping passengers in Rishikesh.

The Char Dham temples comprise four pilgrim destinations, including Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, in Uttarakhand and draw a large number of visitors every year.

The pilgrimage to the four temples began on September 18 this year, after the Nainital high court allowed fully vaccinated tourists with negative RT-PCR reports for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) to travel.

Last week, the Uttarakhand government had temporarily suspended the Char Dham Yatra amid torrential rains.

Incessant rainfall across Uttarakhand and adjoining Himachal Pradesh has brought normal life to a virtual standstill and caused widespread damage.

The Char Dham Yatra began on September 18 this year after the Nainital High Court on September 16 lifted the ban on Char Dham Yatra and allowed only fully Covid vaccinated people with a mandatory Covid-19 negative report for the annual pilgrimage. This yatra attracts lakhs of tourists and devotees every year from across the country and abroad.