More than 12 lakh devotees have visited Kedarnath since the yatra began on April 22. With the monsoon now active in the region, Rudraprayag District Magistrate Vishal Mishra has urged pilgrims to remain cautious during their journey.
Mishra said the pilgrimage has been progressing smoothly so far. He added that officials are closely monitoring traffic movement, landslide-prone stretches and the Kedarnath temple area through surveillance cameras as rainfall increases. He urged devotees to follow safety precautions while undertaking the pilgrimage and said medical facilities are available along the route for those who need assistance.
Pilgrims suffering from any health issues have been advised to carry their prescribed medicines. The administration has also asked visitors to keep raincoats and other rain gear with them due to changing weather conditions.
Mishra further requested devotees to help keep the pilgrimage route clean and avoid using plastic. Authorities are maintaining strict vigil over sensitive locations as the monsoon season advances. He said the trek to Kedarnath becomes more difficult during the rainy season because of the risk of landslides, falling rocks and debris along the route.
To ensure safety, the administration has put special arrangements in place at vulnerable spots on both the Kedarnath Highway and the trekking path.
Officials said surveillance has been strengthened and disaster response teams have been kept on standby to tackle any emergency situation.
Areas such as Sirobagad, Banswara, Jamu and Munkatiya on the Kedarnath Highway have been identified as highly prone to landslides. Similarly, Kuber Glacier, Rambara, Bhimbali and Lincholi on the trekking route are being closely monitored as these locations are considered vulnerable during the monsoon.
The administration has appealed to pilgrims to follow official advisories and cooperate with authorities to ensure a safe and smooth yatra.
Uttarakhand Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Madan Kaushik said the state government has made extensive preparations across all districts connected to the Char Dham Yatra, including Haridwar, Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi.
He added that the government is working in close coordination with the NDRF and SDRF, while Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is personally reviewing the arrangements and preparedness measures.
Also read: Char Dham Yatra crosses 35.66 lakh mark
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