The NDMA organized a tabletop drill at the Secretariat auditorium in Dehradun on Tuesday to assess the current arrangements for the upcoming Char-Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand on May 10th.
Previously, a meeting was convened by Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, on Friday, in order to assess the preparations for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra in 2024. Within the meeting, CM Dhami explicitly instructed officials to guarantee adequate provisions for electricity, potable water, and well-maintained roads along the travel routes during the Yatra.
The security personnel assigned to Yatra duty were instructed to maintain a high level of alertness and take breaks every six hours. The discussion also included planning for the accommodation of drivers involved in the Yatra.
Moreover, the Chief Minister stressed the significance of using social media to share updates about the Char Dham Yatra with travellers arriving from other states. He also mandated that directories pertaining to the Yatra be provided in various languages at hotels, guest houses, and homestays.
The Char Dham Yatra is a sacred journey to four important pilgrimage sites—Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. The pilgrimage commences from Yamunotri, moves on to Gangotri, then to Kedarnath, and ultimately ends at Badrinath, following a clockwise route. These high-altitude shrines are shut for approximately half a year annually, opening during the summer months (April or May) and closing as winter approaches (October or November).
Pilgrims are provided with the choice to accomplish their journey either by road or by air, as there are helicopter services available. Additionally, certain devotees opt for a Do Dham Yatra, where they visit two shrines, namely Kedarnath and Badrinath, as mentioned on the official website of Uttarakhand tourism.
On Friday, CM Dhami reassured the pilgrims that all essential arrangements have been made for the Char Dham Yatra, with approximately 16 lakh individuals registered to partake in the pilgrimage.
