Kedarnath: The Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, on Tuesday, visited Kedarnath to review Kedarnath Yatra-related preparations."Under the direction and leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the work (construction) for three consecutive phases of the Kedarnath Yatra have been completed and the ones for further phases is going on," said Dhami."I am myself going to review the preparations in the area to ensure a smooth pilgrimage," the chief minister said."This year, the hotels, cabs, taxis, etc. are being booked two months prior, hence we are expecting it to break all records this time," Dhami said. Addressing mediapersons, the chief minister assured that the administration has made all the arrangements for the smooth conduct and functioning of the Kedarnath Yatra.Earlier on April 9, the chief minister had said that in the near future, the distance between Uttarakhand and Delhi will get reduced to 2 hours. The distance between Haridwar to Kashipur is likely to be covered within one to 1.5 hours as a proposal for road construction had been approved.As per the announcement at Omkareshwar Temple at Ukhimath, the seat of Panch Kedar, the portals of Kedarnath Temple is scheduled to open on May 6, while the Badrinath Temple will open on May 8.Prior to the opening of the portals, Kedar Baba's doli (palanquin) will leave for Kedarnath from Omkareshwar Temple at Ukhimath on May 2.Char Dham Yatra begins on May 3 this year with the opening of portals of the Yamunotri temple in the Uttarkashi district of the state. —ANI

The Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, on Tuesday, visited Kedarnath to review Kedarnath Yatra-related preparations.

Uttarakhand CM Dhami Visits Kedarnath To Review Yatra-Related Preparations

Dehradun: On the fifth day of the opening of the doors of Kedarnath Dham, more than 80,000 pilgrims visited Kedarnath Dham and took darshan of Lord Kedarnath.SP, Rudraprayag, Ayush Aggarwal, told ANI on the phone that the journey to Kedarnath Dham is going on smoothly and there is a queue among passengers for darshan."From the helipad located in Kedarnath Dham to the temple, there is a long queue of devotees to have darshan of God. 6 devotees who came on Kedarnath pilgrimage have also died due to deteriorating health," he added.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comMr Aggarwal also said that in view of the bad weather, the passengers are stopped at Sonprayag and they are being sent from Sonprayag to Kedarnath Dham after the weather turns clear.&nbsp;—ANI

On the fifth day of the opening of the doors of Kedarnath Dham, more than 80,000 pilgrims visited Kedarnath Dham and took darshan of Lord Kedarnath.

Amid Bad Weather, Over 80,000 Pilgrims Visit Kedarnath Dham On 5th Day

Rudraprayag: After an unprecedented number of devotees turned up at the Kedarnath Temple, one of the Char Dhams in Uttarakhand, the Indo-Tibetan Border Force (ITBP) was deployed for crowd management on Friday.Since the yatra began, as many as 28 tourists en route to Kedarnath have died due to various reasons.On Thursday, a meeting of the Uttarakhand State government was called over the huge influx of tourists visiting the state for the yatra.It was decided to deploy the ITBP at the Kedarnath for crowd management. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will also assist temples in handling the crowds.Vivek Kumar Pandey, spokesperson of the ITBP said that the force has been deployed for security and streamlining&nbsp;darshan&nbsp;at Kedarnath Temple after a huge influx of pilgrims."ITBP has been managing the heavy rush to the Kedarnath temple and the Kedarnath valley," he said.Pandey further said that more than 20,000 devotees are visiting the temple daily and due to the pilgrims' rush places such as Sonprayag, Ukhimath and Kedarnath are packed.The ITBP teams, deployed at these locations, are keeping a close eye on the movement of the yatris, he said."It's been a week since the portals of the temple were opened on May 6, 2022, and more than 1,30,000 pilgrims have so far visited the Kedarnath Temple," Pandey added.The ITBP has also alerted its disaster management teams in the area. Medical teams with oxygen cylinders have been deployed at places and with the help of state administration, drills for medical emergencies and evacuation on requirements are being undertaken.At Badrinath Temple also, ITBP teams have been helping the temple and civil administration for smooth conduct of darshan and management of the rush of the pilgrims.The Char Dham Yatra this year has been witnessing an unusual rush of pilgrims as it has been opened after two years after the lifting of COVID restrictions.—ANI

After an unprecedented number of devotees turned up at the Kedarnath Temple, one of the Char Dhams in Uttarakhand, the Indo-Tibetan Border Force (ITBP) was deployed for crowd management on Friday.

ITBP to manage rush of pilgrims at Kedarnath; 28 tourists dead so far

Dehradun: Over two lakh pilgrims have visited the Kedarnath and Badrinath since their opening on May 6 and May 8 respectively, officials said on Thursday. Till 4 pm on Thursday 1,30,257 pilgrims have visited Kedarnath and Badrinath was visited by 76,968 devotees, Badrinath-Kedarnath Mandir Samiti, which manages the temples, said. It is an indication that the four Himalayan shrines are all set to receive a record number of pilgrims this time, Samiti chairman Ajendra Ajay said. Very good arrangements for the convenience of pilgrims have been made along the Chardham Yatra route and they are thanking the administration for everything, he said. Chief Secretary S S Sandhu said it is only natural for pilgrims to arrive in large numbers for the Char Dham Yatra this time as it taking place on its full scale after a gap of two years during which it was conducted in a severely limited manner due to the Covid pandemic. However, in view of the carrying capacity of temples, a cap has been put on the number of pilgrims visiting them daily and their registration has been made compulsory so that they face no inconvenience, he said. There are satisfactory arrangements for pilgrims on the route and the situation is being constantly monitored in consultation with the District Magistrates of Chamoli, Uttarkashi and Rudraprayag districts in which the temples are located.The state government also shared videos in which pilgrims from Rajasthan, Maharashtra and West Bengal were seen praising the authorities for the arrangements en route to the temples.On the unusually high number of deaths of pilgrims on way to the temples, the chief secretary said most of them had died of heart attacks or post-Covid medical complications, not due to poor arrangements. Around 23 pilgrims have died on way to the temples since the start of the Char Dham yatra on May 3.&nbsp;—PTI&nbsp;

 Over two lakh pilgrims have visited the Kedarnath and Badrinath since their opening on May 6 and May 8 respectively, officials said on Thursday.

U'Khand: Over 2 Lakh Pilgrims Visit Kedarnath-Badrinath In About A Week

Dehradun: After an unprecedented number of devotees turned up at the Kedarnath Temple, one of the Char Dhams in Uttarakhand, the Indo-Tibetan Border Force (ITBP) was deployed for crowd management on Friday.Since the yatra began, as many as 28 tourists en route to Kedarnath have died due to various reasons.On Thursday, a meeting of the Uttarakhand State government was called over the huge influx of tourists visiting the state for the yatra.It was decided to deploy the ITBP at the Kedarnath for crowd management. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will also assist temples in handling the crowds. Vivek Kumar Pandey, spokesperson of the ITBP said that the force has been deployed for security and streamlining darshan at Kedarnath Temple after a huge influx of pilgrims."ITBP has been managing the heavy rush to the Kedarnath temple and the Kedarnath valley," he said.Pandey further said that more than 20,000 devotees are visiting the temple daily and due to the pilgrims' rush places such as Sonprayag, Ukhimath and Kedarnath are packed.The ITBP teams, deployed at these locations, are keeping a close eye on the movement of the yatris, he said."It's been a week since the portals of the temple were opened on May 6, 2022, and more than 1,30,000 pilgrims have so far visited the Kedarnath Temple," Pandey added.The ITBP has also alerted its disaster management teams in the area. Medical teams with oxygen cylinders have been deployed at places and with the help of state administration, drills for medical emergencies and evacuation on requirements are being undertaken.At Badrinath Temple also, ITBP teams have been helping the temple and civil administration for smooth conduct of darshan and management of the rush of the pilgrims. The Char Dham Yatra this year has been witnessing an unusual rush of pilgrims as it has been opened after two years after the lifting of COVID restrictions.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has been deployed on Kedarnath temple premises for security and crowd management following heavy influx of pilgrims.The ITBP teams at various locations are maintaining a close vigil on the movement of the yatris from security point of view on the request of the district administrations.More than 20,000 devotees are visiting the temple. Besides, places such as Sonprayag, Ukhimath and Kedarnath are bursting with devotees. Being the first responder in the Himalayan region, the Force has deployed its security personnel along the route to the Kedar valley and on the temple premises on the request of the district administration, the ITBP PRO Vivek Pandey said.Apart from security, crowd management becomes an important task when the influx of the pilgrims is so huge, he added.The Himalayan border guarding force has also deployed its disaster management teams in the area along with medical teams with oxygen cylinders. With the help of state administration, drills of medical emergencies and evacuation on requirements are being undertaken, Pandey added.There have been some incidents of stampedes at religious places in the past and it has been noticed that a large number of pilgrims have been visiting religious places after Covid- induced lockdown almost after two years, the officials in the local civil administration said.The Kedarnath temple was opened on May 6 and till now more than one 1.30 lakh pilgrims have already visited the Kedarnath temple so far. At Badrinath temple also, the ITBP teams have been helping the temple and civil administration for smooth conduct of 'darshan' and management of the rush of the pilgrims.The Char Dham Yatra this year has been witnessing unprecedented rush of pilgrims as it has been opened after two years of Covid restrictions.&nbsp;—ANI/IANS

ITBP To Manage Rush Of Pilgrims At Kedarnath; 28 Tourists Dead So Far

Dehradun / Noida: A Noida-based man, who came under fire for taking his dog, Husky, to the Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand and was booked as well by the police for allegedly hurting religious sentiments, said his pet 'Nawab' has travelled with him across the country and people were amazed watching it at the holy shrine.The incident came to the fore after a video showing the man with 'Nawab' on the outer premises of the temple and making it touch the statue of 'Nandi' went viral on social media platforms. An FIR has also been filed in the connection with the matter on the complaint of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee.Speaking to ANI, dog owner Rohit Tyagi said that four and half years old Nawab has visited many temples from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and the dog received love from the people at the Kedarnath Temple during the ongoing Char Dham Yatra. Sharing his experience visiting Kedarnath with his dog, Tyagi said Nawab was overwhelmed with love and blessing from people. "Nawab never experienced anything like this before in his journey.When asked why he took a dog to Kedarnath Temple, Tyagi said that Nawab is his "child" and families don't leave their children at home when they go on trips.After the video of Tyagi with his dog went viral, Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee President Ajendra Ajay took its cognizance. Later, the temple committee gave a complaint to the police station outpost in Kedarnath demanding legal action against the man so that such "unwanted" activities/incidents do not recur.According to the temple committee's media cell, the video has hurt "religious sentiments". —ANI

 A Noida-based man, who came under fire for taking his dog, Husky, to the Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand and was booked as well by the police for allegedly hurting religious sentiments, said his pet 'Nawab' has travelled with him across the country and people were amazed watching it at the holy shrine.

People Were Amazed Watching 'Nawab' There: Man Who Was Booked For Taking His Husky To Kedarnath

Dehradun: Ganga, which traverses thousands of miles through distinctive terrains and geographies, is not just a sacred river but also a lifeline to millions of Indians who live along its course.Thus, ensuring its sanctity and untainted fluidity is an unstated responsibility of all citizens.And, in order to achieve this objective, the government has been tirelessly working for the river's conservation to free it of all contamination and rejuvenation with its tributaries.In what could be termed an integrated effort to accomplish its mission, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has roped in nearly all stakeholders under its flagship programme 'Namami Gange'."We are now trying to take up a few activities, in which, one of them is natural farming on either side i.e. 10 kilometres alongside river Ganga. In Uttarakhand, we are focusing on that because we have already taken up lots of sewage treatment plants (STPs). We would like to have the non-point pollution sources like fertilizers from agriculture and other industries not flowing into the river. So, as a part of that, we want to encourage farmers to take up natural or organic farming, which means that we would like to discourage farmers from going for chemical fertilizers and go for natural fertilizers," said NMCG Director General, G Asok Kumar.To protect the Ganga from toxic insecticides and pesticides, the government had appealed to farmers of Uttarakhand to adopt an alternate farming method. And today, just in a few years, the dominant form of farming in the region is organic farming.These farmers in the Chamoli district of the state are being trained to produce bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides independently.One of the farmers in Chamoli, Mohan Singh told ANI, "In 2019-20, under the Namami Gange initiative, the Gram Sabha received 100 spray machines, 100 drums, and a plastic pit to work on organic fertilizing. Earlier we used to throw dung alongside rivers, but now we are getting pure organic fertilizer due to plastic pits."A number of such small yet significant initiatives like this have provided two-fold dividends to the farmers.The cost of production has come down to almost nil, the health of the soil has improved, the crop yields are satisfactory, and the prices that farmers get for organic crops are higher.And now, not only are the farmers creating and consuming organic produce but they have also been incentivized under the 'Organic Haat' initiative where they can sell it without any hindrance. It has significantly reduced the time and effort they would invest in selling their crops."Organic Haat can allow us to sell our products 30 per cent ahead of a market price. From here one can get daal, vegetables, spices, pulses and many other products belonging to different parts of Uttarakhand. We got to know about organic haat in 2015 and have been a part of this initiative since then," said an organic farmer.Another important component of Ganga rejuvenation is 'forestry interventions' to enhance the productivity and diversity of the forests in headwater areas and all along the river and its tributaries. A massive afforestation drive to preserve flora and the fauna--by and large protecting the Ganga basin ecosystem -- has been taken up along the banks of its Ganga stream.Apart from this the soil conservation and water harvesting projects too have revived the biodiversity of the region.Increasing the space of Biodiversity parks at the Ganga riverfront has also proved instrumental in preserving the health and ecosystem of River Ganga.The quality of the water of the river was already satisfactory in the Uttarakhand region but the combination of these efforts has further improved it. People say the current stream of Ganga is the purest they have seen in their lives.The government on the other side says the job is not done as yet as it has to restore the original nature of the sacred river, which can live up to the expectations of Uttarakhand's alternate identity 'Dev Bhoomi'.&nbsp;—ANI

Ganga, which traverses thousands of miles through distinctive terrains and geographies, is not just a sacred river but also a lifeline to millions of Indians who live along its course.

Uttarakhand: Organic Farming, Afforestation Efforts By NMCG Improve Ganga Health

Dehradun: The Kedarnath yatra was suspended amid heavy rains on Monday with devotees en route to the shrine halted at various places between Gaurikund and Kedarnath, an official said.Conscious of the 2013 Kedarnath deluge tragedy, the Rudraprayag district administration appealed to pilgrims to stay put at their respective stations till the weather improves, he said.The Rudraprayag district magistrate said the people who had already worshipped at the Lord Shiva's temple in Kedarnath by Monday morning were stopped from undertaking their return journey.Similarly, the people readying themselves to proceed to Kedarnath from its base camp Gaurikund were stopped from undertaking the onward journey to the shrine, he said.The district administration is taking all possible precautions to ensure that no untoward incident takes place, he added.—PTI

The Kedarnath yatra was suspended amid heavy rains on Monday with devotees en route to the shrine halted at various places between Gaurikund and Kedarnath, an official said.

Kedarnath yatra suspended amid heavy rains: Officials

The Kedarnath yatra was suspended amid heavy rains on Monday with devotees en route to the shrine halted at various places between Gaurikund and Kedarnath, an official said.





Dehradun: Snowfall and rain hit the Char Dham Yatra on Tuesday (May 24) with thousands of pilgrims halted en route to Kedarnath and Yamunotri temples in the Garhwal Himalayas as a precautionary measure. Kedarnath began receiving snow early on Tuesday while the lower areas were lashed by rains prompting the authorities to stop the pilgrims for their safety in Gaurikund and Sonprayag. Pilgrims going to Yamunotri were also halted in Janakichatti, the last stopover on way to the famous shrine, as the weather turned worse in the afternoon.The peaks around Badrinath also received snow.Badkot subdivisional magistrate (SDM) Shalini Negi said Yamunotri-bound pilgrims were stopped in Janakichatti as a precautionary measure. They will be allowed to proceed on their onward journey after the weather clears, she said.Pilgrims halted on way to the shrine on Monday due to bad weather were permitted to go to the temple on Tuesday morning, she said, adding they have already returned after offering prayers there.Rudraprayag District Magistrate Mayur Dikshit also said the pilgrims on way to Kedarnath were halted in Sonprayag and Gaurikund as the weather is bad and it is not safe for pilgrims to go beyond these points for the time being. Once the weather improves they will be allowed to visit the temple, he said.An unprecedented number of pilgrims are visiting the Himalayan temples this year with the Covid-induced restrictions no longer in place.More than nine lakh pilgrims have already paid obeisance at the Himalayan temples in Garhwal region of Uttarakhand since the start of the pilgrimage on May 3. —PTI

 Snowfall and rain hit the Char Dham Yatra on Tuesday (May 24) with thousands of pilgrims halted en route to Kedarnath and Yamunotri temples in the Garhwal Himalayas as a precautionary measure. 

Snowfall Halts Pilgrims On Way To Kedarnath, Yamunotri

Dehradun: Snowfall and rain hit the Char Dham Yatra on Tuesday with thousands of pilgrims halted en route to Kedarnath and Yamunotri temples in the Garhwal Himalayas as a precautionary measure. Kedarnath began receiving snow early on Tuesday while the lower areas were lashed by rains prompting the authorities to stop the pilgrims for their safety in Gaurikund and Sonprayag.Pilgrims going to Yamunotri were also halted in Janakichatti, the last stopover on way to the famous shrine, as the weather turned worse in the afternoon.The peaks around Badrinath also received snow. Badkot subdivisional magistrate (SDM) Shalini Negi said Yamunotri-bound pilgrims were stopped in Janakichatti as a precautionary measure. They will be allowed to proceed on their onward journey after the weather clears, she said.Pilgrims halted on way to the shrine on Monday due to bad weather were permitted to go to the temple on Tuesday morning, she said, adding they have already returned after offering prayers there.Rudraprayag District Magistrate Mayur Dikshit also said the pilgrims on way to Kedarnath were halted in Sonprayag and Gaurikund as the weather is bad and it is not safe for pilgrims to go beyond these points for the time being.Once the weather improves they will be allowed to visit the temple, he said. An unprecedented number of pilgrims are visiting the Himalayan temples this year with the Covid-induced restrictions no longer in place. More than nine lakh pilgrims have already paid obeisance at the Himalayan temples in Garhwal region of Uttarakhand since the start of the pilgrimage on May 3.—PTI

Snowfall and rain hit the Char Dham Yatra on Tuesday with thousands of pilgrims halted en route to Kedarnath and Yamunotri temples in the Garhwal Himalayas as a precautionary measure

Snowfall halts Pilgrims stopped on way to Kedarnath, Yamunotri

Rudraprayag (Uttarakhand): Three more people have died in Kedarnath Dham, bringing the cumulative death toll to 37 since the opening of the holy shrine's doors for devotees on May 6, according to an official data.Rudraprayag District Administration said on Wednesday said that three more people have died of heart attacks.As many as 57 pilgrims have lost their lives during the course of the Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand since the pilgrimage began on May 3 this year, the officials informed on Sunday.The Char Dham yatra began with the opening of Gangotri and Yamunotri portals for devotees on May 3, on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya in the presence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.While the doors of Badrinath were opened on May 8.According to the Uttarakhand government, 8,000 pilgrims will be allowed daily at Gangotri, 16,000 at Badrinath, 13,000 at Kedarnath, and 5,000 at Yamunotri. Notably, Gangotri, along with Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, are the four most revered Hindu pilgrimages in the Himalayas. —ANI

 Three more people have died in Kedarnath Dham, bringing the cumulative death toll to 37 since the opening of the holy shrine's doors for devotees on May 6, according to an official data.

Kedarnath Dham Yatra: 3 More Dead, Toll Reaches 37

Rudraprayag: Following PM Narendra Modi's appeal to people to ensure cleanliness at pilgrimage sites, pilgrims, government and non-government agencies organised a cleanliness drive near Kedarnath Dham on Tuesday.Rudraprayag district magistrate Mayur Dixit said the administration would continuously monitor the situation of waste management.As a result, garbage strewn in Kedarnath and surrounding areas is now getting cleared. On Tuesday morning, the district administration and staff of Sulabh International, an organization working on environment preservation, collected tonnes of garbage from the Kedarnath area. Tourists took part in a cleanliness drive on the way to Gaurikund, Sonprayag and Kedarnath. Geographically, Sonprayag is located between Rudraprayag and Gaurikund en route to Kedarnath.Referring to the filth spread by some pilgrims during the Char-Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand, Prime Minister Modi on Sunday had appealed to people to maintain the dignity of pilgrimage sites.Speaking to ANI on this development, Dr Sarvesh Uniyal, an official of Garhwal University's Tourism Department said, "These days, we are witnessing a huge influx of tourists at pilgrimage sites. Following this, a significant part of the environment is impacted. People throw away plastic recklessly here and there.""Knowing this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday appealed to the people to maintain dignity of pilgrimage sites. I feel that we all have to act responsibly to protect the environment. Teerth yatra should be teerth seva as well," he said.District Magistrate Mayur Dixit also urged people to maintain cleanliness in the state."In his monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat', the Prime Minister pointed out that thousands of devotees arriving in the state for the Char Dham Yatra see filth being spread by some pilgrims in Kedarnath. In this regard, I have ordered the concerned officials to ensure proper waste management at the pilgrimage sites," Dixit said.Dixit pointed out that a cleanliness drive is also being carried out at Gaurikund, Sonprayag and Kedarnath areas wherein large amounts of waste have been collected. "We will carry out cleanliness drives at the pilgrimage sites on a regular basis from now onwards," he said.The Prime Minister had appealed in his address that "Wherever we go, let us maintain the dignity of these pilgrimage sites"."We should never neglect purity, cleanliness and the environment. For these, it is imperative that we abide by the norms of cleanliness. In a few days the world will celebrate Environment Day on June 5. We should run clean environment campaigns and this is a never ending task. This time, you should join others -- you should make some effort for cleanliness and tree plantation. Plant a tree yourself and inspire others too," he said.&nbsp;—ANI

 Following PM Narendra Modi's appeal to people to ensure cleanliness at pilgrimage sites, pilgrims, government and non-government agencies organised a cleanliness drive near Kedarnath Dham on Tuesday.

On PM's Appeal, Pilgrims, Govt Agencies, NGOs Undertake Cleanliness Drive Near Kedarnath Dham

Dehradun: The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) on Wednesday decided to provide insurance of one lakh rupees to the devotees in case of any kind of accident that happens with them on the temple premises of Chardham located in Uttarakhand.As many as 91 pilgrims have already lost their lives during the course of the Char Dam Yatra since it began on May 3, the officials of the Yatra informed on May 27. Uttarakhand Director-General (DG) of Health, Shailja Bhatt, had cited 'heart attack' as the primary reason behind the reported deaths.The officials had also informed about the additional deployment of 169 doctors on the Chardham Yatra route.Meawhile, twenty-six people, were killed and four others injured after the bus carrying pilgrims from Panna district in Madhya Pradesh fell into a deep gorge en route to the Yamunotri temple in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand on June 5, according to officials. Besides the driver and the helper, there were 28 passengers on board.On May 30, a helicopter belonging to a private aviation company had an uncontrolled hard landing while landing at the Kedarnath helipad.As per the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee on Sunday (June 12), over 19 lakhs devotees undertook the Char Dham Yatra, of which a total of 19,04,253 (nineteen lakh four thousand two hundred fifty-three) pilgrims had reached the Uttarakhand Chardham.From May 8 to June 11 evening, 6,57,547 pilgrims had reached Badrinath Dham while 6,33,548 pilgrims had arrived at the Kedarnath Dham from May 6 to the evening of June 11.The Uttarakhand government, on May 11, had announced its decision to increase the number of pilgrims by 1,000 each to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. As many as 16,000 devotees can now visit Badrinath and 13,000 can have 'darshan' of the deity at Kedarnath Dham in a day whereas 8,000 and 5,000 pilgrims can visit Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham respectively in a day. The doors of the Gangotri-Yamunotri Dham were opened on May 3 and the portals of Kedarnath and Badrinath were opened on May 6 and May 8 respectively. This year, the registrations for Yatra have also observed a new record as more than 10 lakh pilgrims have registered. —ANI

The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) on Wednesday decided to provide insurance of one lakh rupees to the devotees in case of any kind of accident that happens with them on the temple premises of Chardham located in Uttarakhand.

Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee To Provide Insurance To Devotees

Rudraprayag (Uttarakhand): Due to the onset of monsoon in Uttarakhand and in some parts of the country, vehicular movement on the Badrinath-Kedarnath highway has been disrupted due to debris.According to Rudraprayag police, the Sirobgad area in Rudraprayag district is closed since 4 am today, debris and stones have been falling continuously from the hill.Due to this, there is a long queue of vehicles on both sides of the highway. However, after the wheels of the vehicles were jammed for hours, the movement is done through an alternate route, the police said.Earlier on Sunday, the Meteorological Department of Uttarakhand issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in the state till Wednesday. Meanwhile, the department has issued a red alert for rain in the Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Nainital, Champawat, Bageshwar, and Pithoragarh regions of Uttarakhand.Earlier also the Badrinath highway was blocked due to the falling of several boulders at Birahi and Pagal Nala following the overnight rainfall on Saturday. Meanwhile, the department has issued a red alert for rain in the Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Nainital, Champawat, Bageshwar, and Pithoragarh regions of Uttarakhand.The alerts have been issued on the basis of the weather forecast issued by the Science department of the State Meteorological Department.Earlier on May 17, the traffic movement was disrupted on the Badrinath route, NH7, near Panchpulia in Uttarakhand's Karnaprayag after the boulders fell from the hill. However, the movement was later resumed. —ANI

 Due to the onset of monsoon in Uttarakhand and in some parts of the country, vehicular movement on the Badrinath-Kedarnath highway has been disrupted due to debris.

Uttarakhand: Traffic Movement Disrupted Due To Rain On Badrinath-Kedarnath Highway

Dehradun: A woman from Maharashtra was killed and five others sustained injuries when the vehicle in which they were travelling was hit by a landslide on Kedarnath road on Wednesday, an official said.The incident occurred near Sonprayag on the Rudraprayag-Gaurikund National Highway around 3 pm, Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said.There were 11 people in the vehicle at the time of the accident and they were returning from Kedarnath, he said.The vehicle was engaged in Sonprayag-Gaurikund shuttle service and was hit by huge boulders and debris that suddenly came down from a hillock near Munkatiya, he said.The woman from Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar was identified as 62-year-old Pushpa Mohan Bhonsle. She died on the spot, the official said.On receiving information about the incident, police and State Disaster Response Force personnel reached the spot and started relief and rescue operations, Rajwar said.Uttarakhand was lashed by rain on Wednesday leading to landslides at several places in the state.&nbsp;—PTI&nbsp;&nbsp;

 Maharashtra, travelling, landslide, Kedarnath, Sonprayag, Rudraprayag Gaurikund National Highway, Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar

Woman Killed, 5 Injured In Uttarakhand Landslide

: A woman from Maharashtra was killed and five others sustained injuries when the vehicle in which they were travelling was hit by a landslide on Kedarnath road on Wednesday, an official said.The incident occurred near Sonprayag on the Rudraprayag-Gaurikund National Highway around 3 pm,

Dehradun: The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) urged the Uttarakhand government on Tuesday to build cloak rooms near the Himalayan temples where pilgrims can leave their mobile phones and wallets before entering the temple premises.The request was made by BKTC chairman Ajendra Ajay in a letter addressed to Chief Secretary SS Sandhu.Ajay"s letter came after a video clip purportedly shot inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Kedarnath temple went viral on social media platforms.Alleging that the video was shot inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple by a devotee and posted on social media, the BKTC chairman said such activities can only be stopped when there are cloak rooms near the temples where devotees can deposit their mobile phones, electronic equipment, bags and wallets before entering the temple premises.Ajay has also asked BKTC CEO BD Singh to probe how the video was allowed to be shot inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and seek an explanation from the officials who were on duty at the time.Devotees entering the temple with mobile phones and other electronic gadgets is not good for their own safety, he said.&nbsp;—PTI

The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) urged the Uttarakhand government on Tuesday to build cloak rooms near the Himalayan temples where pilgrims can leave their mobile phones and wallets before entering the temple premises.

Temple Committee Demands Cloak Rooms For Badrinath, Kedarnath

Rudraprayag/ Kedarnath: Amid the ongoing heavy rainfall from Sonprayag onwards in Uttarakhand, the Kedarnath Yatra has been stopped once again for ensuring the safety of the pilgrims amid the apprehensions of untoward incidents, the Rudraprayag district administration informed on Saturday.Earlier on June 30, the Rudraprayag police at the Sirobgad area had informed about the district being closed till 4 AM after the debris and stones kept falling from the hill, which resulted in the traffic being jammed on both sides of the highway.Badrinath highway was also blocked due to the falling of several boulders at the Birahi and Pagal Nala area, following the overnight rainfall on June 25.Meanwhile, on May 17, the traffic movement was disrupted on the Badrinath route, NH7, near Panchpulia in Karnaprayag after the boulders fell from the hill.As per the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee on June 18, atleast 7 lakh 27 thousand pilgrims had visited Kedarnath since its doors were opened on May 6.The India Meteorological Department has predicted isolated heavy rainfall over Uttarakhand on Sunday and Wednesday (July 10 and July 13).The IMD has also forecasted extremely heavy rainfall over Uttarakhand for today (Saturday, July 9)."Isolated heavy rainfall very likely over Jammu &amp; Kashmir on 09th and 10th; Himachal Pradesh on 10th, 12th and 13th and over Uttarakhand on 10th and 13th July 2022," IMD said in a tweet. "...Isolated extremely heavy rainfall also likely over Uttarakhand on 09th July 2022," it added.&nbsp;—ANI

Amid the ongoing heavy rainfall from Sonprayag onwards in Uttarakhand, the Kedarnath Yatra has been stopped once again for ensuring the safety of the pilgrims amid the apprehensions of untoward incidents, the Rudraprayag district administration informed on Saturday.

Heavy Rainfall In Uttarakhand's Sonprayag Halts Kedarnath Yatra Once Again

Dehradun: A Hyderabad-based start-up has launched a unique deposit refund system at Kedarnath in collaboration with the district administration to address the problem of littering and incentivise plastic waste disposal at the Himalayan temple.Under the deposit refund system introduced by the start-up called Recykal, the pilgrims have to pay an additional Rs 10 on every plastic bottle of water, beverages, soft drinks or consumer goods packaged in plastic at the time of buying it and the amount is refunded when they return it. A scannable QR sticker is put on each bottle or plastic packet by shop owners on the way to the temple for identification. Even if some pilgrims decide to forgo their refund and throw away the bottles and plastic packets, anyone who picks those up and returns those to the collection centre, known as the deposit refund centre, is paid Rs 10 per bottle or packet, founder of Recykal Abhay Deshpande told PTI.The plastic waste collected in this manner is then supplied to over 200 recyclers all over the country, he said. "Recykal"s Deposit Refund System (DRS) has been designed to solve the existing challenges of ineffective collection and channelisation of waste at Kedarnath. By placing a value on waste, we are enabling efficient increased material recovery and better quality for recycling," Deshpande said. Apart from incentivising people for cleaning up the area, this disruptive technology-driven system has been able to generate an additional source of livelihood for "pitthuwalas" (people who carry pilgrims in a basket on their shoulders) and Sulabh employees, he added."By returning 10 bottles, I earn around Rs 100 that cover a portion of my daily meals," Ravi, a pitthuwala, said."It also keeps my area clean. So I am happy," he added.The increased participation by tourists and locals in the Deposit Refund System has led to a whopping 54 per cent increase in plastic collection, with more and more plastic being retrieved every day, Deshpande said.By taking part in the initiative, tourists and locals have diverted over 20,000 plastic items from Himalayan rivers and landfills so far, he said.The initiative was launched by Recykal when it came to know that close to 10,000 kg of solid waste is generated at the Himalayan temple everyday during the peak of the Char Dham yatra.Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had, in a recent edition of his monthly radio address "Mann Ki Baat", expressed concern over littering by pilgrims at Kedarnath.With the help of the district administration, Recykal was able to distribute and ensure the usage of scannable QR stickers to all shops en route the Kedarnath trek. The shop owners pasted these stickers on consumer goods packaged in plastic and collected a nominal deposit fee from the consumer, which was refunded once the discarded plastic was returned to the Deposit Refund Centre."Recykal"s DRS idea is a seed, we need to nourish it in the best possible way so it can manifest itself into larger possibilities," Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Ukhimath Jitendra Verma said."Recykal aims to scale up and implement this system from the Kedarnath trek up to Gaurikund and Sonprayag. We may even extend it to the other Himalayan temples in Uttarakhand like Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri next year," Deshpande said.&nbsp;—PTI

 A Hyderabad-based start-up has launched a unique deposit refund system at Kedarnath in collaboration with the district administration to address the problem of littering and incentivise plastic waste disposal at the Himalayan temple.

Start-Up Launches DRS System To Incentivise Plastic Waste Disposal At Kedarnath

Dehradun: A bus carrying 31 passengers from Kedarnath, crashed near three streams under the Devprayag police station and overturned on the road, near Kodiala on Monday. According to the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), all the passengers travelling in the bus are residents of Maharashtra and were coming to Haridwar from Kedarnath. On receiving the information, a rescue team from SDRF Post Kaudiyala immediately reached the spot."The bus carrying passengers going from Kedarnath to Haridwar crashed after overturning near Kodiala," said SDRF Inspector Kavindra Sajwan."There were 31 passengers and two children in the bus, 21 injured passengers were taken to Rishikesh by private vehicle, 12 persons are general injured who are being given first aid at the spot," he added.All the passengers are residents of Maharashtra.&nbsp;—ANI

A bus carrying 31 passengers from Kedarnath, crashed near three streams under the Devprayag police station and overturned on the road, near Kodiala on Monday. 

Bus Coming From Kedarnath Overturns On Road Near Kodiala

New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh each to five helicopter operators carrying pilgrims to Kedarnath shrine for flouting safety rules and not maintaining proper flying records.
The regulator also suspended officials from two other operators for three months.
According to the DGCA, an audit was conducted in June following an incident in which a chopper carrying pilgrims to the high-altitude shrine made a rough landing on May 30.
Officials said that discrepancies and infractions were discovered during the audit.
The DGCA them formed a team for the spot check of choppers involved in shuttle operations in Kedarnath after the incident.
After the spot checks, serious violations came to light, prompting the regulator to conduct a detailed audit of all operators undertaking the shuttle operations.
The audit took place from June 13 to 16.
It disclosed serious violations including five operators were found not maintaining correct flying records in their respective helicopter Technical Log Books.
In addition to the five operators, two others were also found to have violated the provisions of the Joint SOP promulgated by the DGCA.
Show Cause notices (SCNs) were issued to thr seven operators involved in the violations.
On receipt of replies, a personal hearing was granted, and after due deliberations enforcement action was recommended and approved, the same was issued to all seven operators.
“For all the five operators involved in incorrect maintenance of flying records, a penalty of Five Lakh Rupees was awarded respectively; while for the two additional operators involved in violation of provisions of Joint SOP, suspension of their respective Director Operations was awarded for a period of 03 months each. Consequent to the enforcement actions taken by DGCA, the remainder part of the yatra flying till the arrival of monsoons was free from any adverse incidents,” said a senior DGCA official. —IANS

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh each to five helicopter operators carrying pilgrims to Kedarnath shrine for flouting safety rules and not maintaining proper flying records.

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