Char Dham Yatra: No VIP Darshan in All Four Dhams Till May 31: Uttarakhand Government Orders Ban on Reels and Videos Within 50 Meters of Temples

Char Dham Yatra: The crowd of devotees in Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri for the Chardham Yatra is becoming a constant challenge for the administration. In view of the huge crowd, Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Radha Raturi has extended the ban on VIP darshan till May 31. Earlier this ban was imposed till May 25.

Apart from this, the administration has also issued a new advisory regarding carrying mobile phones. The administration has said that devotees will not be able to make reels and videos within a radius of 50 meters of the temple.

In the last two days, the Uttarakhand government has held 5 big meetings, but no solution has been found for the long traffic jams on the Yamunotri and Gangotri routes. However, it is a relief that the time taken in traffic for 20 to 25 hours two days ago has now reduced.

Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Radha Raturi’s Order –

Traffic jam for 12 to 15 hours

Throughout Thursday, around 3 thousand vehicles were crawling in the traffic waiting for 12 to 15 hours on the 99 km route from Uttarkashi to Gangotri and 46 km route from Barkot to Yamunotri. The biggest problem is near Paligad on Yamunotri Highway. Here the vehicles are stopped for 12-12 hours. The roads are narrow and there is heavy motor load, therefore the traffic remained on throughout the night on Wednesday. Passengers spent the night in their vehicles.

Earlier, the state government’s stance changed twice in 5 hours regarding the objections being raised on video shooting in the four Dhams. First Chief Secretary Radha Raturi said that videos or reels cannot be made within 200 meters of the temples. Then the CM held a review meeting.

In the order that came after this, 50 meters was written instead of 200 meters radius. On Thursday, 28 thousand people visited Kedarnath, 12,231 in Badrinath, 10,718 in Yamunotri and 12,236 in Gangotri. So far, 3.98 lakh people have visited the four Dhams. More than 28 lakh people have registered.

Stopped at barriers for two to three hours

• There is a long traffic jam between Sonagad and Bhairav ​​Valley on Gangotri National Highway. It is taking 2-3 hours for the vehicle to pass here.
• Apart from Nagun Barrier, Dunda, Uttarkashi, Tekhala, Heena, vehicles were stopped for one hour each at Damta Barrier and Barkot Dobata of the highway connecting Yamunotri.
• The administration has removed many barriers on the Gangotri-Yamunotri route. Due to this, there were no long traffic jams in Barkot, Netala, Gangori, Naugaon, Brahmakhal, Raditop, Orchha Band, Silkyara area on Thursday. Vehicles kept passing within one to two hours.
• Vehicles were stuck in line for hours at Damta barrier on Yamunotri route. To avoid inconvenience to people in the jam, Uttarkashi administration distributed food packets and water bottles. 8 temporary toilets have also been installed.

400 doctors deployed, 256 of them experts

For the first time, more than 400 doctors have been deployed on the Char Dham Yatra route. Among them, 256 are emergency medical officers and specialist doctors. Still, devotees should plan for at least 7 days before the Yatra, so that the body can acclimatize to the fluctuating temperature.

The Health Department of Uttarakhand has said in its advisory that all the four Dhams are above 3000 metres and snowfall is occurring intermittently on the mountains. Therefore, devotees should make a plan for 7 days and then leave.

Important information related to the case:

1. In view of the huge crowd of devotees gathering in the four Dhams, the Uttarakhand government has decided not to make arrangements for VIP darshan till May 31 and to keep offline registration closed in Haridwar and Rishikesh till May 19.
   
2. The Char Dham (Chardham Yatra 2024) Yatra started on May 10 and according to official figures, till Wednesday, 3,34,732 devotees from India and abroad have reached for darshan in the first six days itself. Registration for Chardham was started on April 25 and till Thursday evening, more than 27 lakh devotees have been registered.
   
3. In a letter sent to the Chief Secretaries of all states and union territories, the state’s Chief Secretary Radha Raturi said that in view of the unexpected number of devotees in the holy shrines in the initial days itself, it has been decided not to make arrangements for VIP darshan till May 31 for better crowd management.
   
4. The Chief Secretary also ordered the officials to ban the making of videos and reels for social media within a radius of 50 meters of the temple complexes in all four Dhams.
   
5. In this regard, he said that some travellers are making videos and reels in the temple premises and a crowd gathers at one place to watch them, causing inconvenience to the devotees in taking darshan.
   
6. Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Radha Raturi said, “The Chief Minister reviewed the arrangements for Chardham in detail in Dehradun. He has directed that no one will shoot videos or make reels within 50 metres of the temple complex…this is hurting the religious sentiments of the devotees.
   
7. The Chief Secretary said there is no restriction on carrying mobile phones…you can use it but no one will be allowed to shoot videos or make reels.
   
8. The administration has also decided that pilgrims visiting the four Dhams without registration will be sent back. 
   
9. So far this year, 11 people have died during the Char Dham Yatra. Last year, about 200 devotees died during the Char Dham Yatra. According to the data released by the government after the end of the Yatra last year, 96 people died in Kedarnath, 34 in Yamunotri Dham, 29 in Gangotri Dham, 33 in Badrinath Dham, 7 in Hemkund Sahib and 1 in Gaumukh Trek.
   
10. The pilgrimage to Yamunotri Dham and Kedarnath Dham, situated at an altitude of 10,804 feet in Uttarkashi district, began on Friday on Akshaya Tritiya. The doors of Badrinath Dham were opened on 12 May. Till 15 May, 59,158 devotees have visited Yamunotri, 51,378 in Gangotri, 1,26,306 in Kedarnath and 39,574 in Badrinath Dham.