PrashantNews
After remaining overcrowded in the past 10 days, the Uttarakhand government is now bracing up to meet the challenge of the summer vacation rush in the Charhdham yatra.
Top police officials admitted that the pilgrim footfall is likely to increase in the days to come. “We are expecting big rush of summer vacations also. But we are fully prepared,” said Arpan Yadhuvanshi, Superintendent of Police (SP) Uttarkashi district where two top Himalayan shrines – Gangotri and Yamunotri – are located.
All the four Chadham shrines in Uttarakhand on Sunday were teeming with pilgrims. Till 2 PM in Gangori shrine, a whopping 10,000 pilgrims have offered their prayers. Another 28,000 pilgrims were moving towards Gangotri shrine when the last reports came in.
The situation in the other three shrines was also no different. In Yamunotri, nearly 8500 pilgrims have returned home after having darshan at the temple dedicated to goddess Yamuna on Sunday. And nearly 20,000 pilgrims were waiting for the darshan at Yamunotri.
In Kedarnath, nearly 34893 pilgrims visited the shrine on Sunday alone.
A total of 6.40 lakh pilgrims have so far offered prayers at the four shrines which includes 1.20 lakh in Badrinath, 2.81 lakh in Kedarnath, 1.25 lakh in Yamunotri and 1.12 lakh in Gangotri.
In Kedarnath, nearly 34893 pilgrims visited the shrine which included 635 children. St Joseph’s Academy (SJA) and many other schools in Dehradun as well as other parts of the country have been closed for summer vacation. “In the summer vacation, we are planning to visit Chardham shrines,” said Vir Singh.
The government is claiming that the yatra is going very smoothly. “All the government agencies including the police are working like a team. In the coming days in view of the overcrowding, we would strengthen our police setup and provide better amenities to pilgrims,” said DGP Abhinav Kumar after visiting Kedarnath shrine in the morning.