Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], July 21 (ANI): Following a comprehensive review of the pilgrimage routes, the Char Dham Yatra, which had been temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure on July 20,
has now resumed smoothly. Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swaroop said that the yatra is being conducted in coordination with the district administrations, police, SDRF, and other concerned departments across all Char Dham districts. The pilgrimage routes are under continuous monitoring, with heightened vigilance being maintained in sensitive areas, according to a release. He appealed to pilgrims that if the route is temporarily disrupted due to heavy rainfall, landslides, or any other reason, they should remain at the designated safe locations or holding areas identified by the administration and strictly follow the instructions issued by the administration and police. The journey will be allowed to resume only after conditions return to normal. The Garhwal Commissioner emphasised that the safety of pilgrims remains the administration’s top priority. All concerned departments have been directed to keep a constant watch on weather conditions and the pilgrimage routes so that immediate action can be taken whenever required. Pilgrims are also advised to check the latest weather updates before commencing their journey and rely only on official advisories issued by the administration. Earlier, the Uttarakhand administration on Monday temporarily halted the Char Dham Yatra as a precautionary measure in view of continuous heavy rainfall, Red and Orange alerts issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and landslides at several locations along the pilgrimage routes. The Garhwal Commissioner directed all concerned District Magistrates and officials to ensure that pilgrims already on the route are accommodated at safe locations. They have also been instructed to allow pilgrims to resume their onward journey only after the routes are declared completely safe. Officials have further been asked to provide timely and accurate information to pilgrims and the public through the media and other communication channels. The administration said the decision was taken solely as a precautionary measure, with the safety of pilgrims being the top priority in view of the prevailing weather conditions and the condition of the Yatra routes. The pilgrimage will resume once the routes are declared safe and the situation returns to normal. Pilgrims have been advised not to pay attention to rumours, to rely only on official advisories issued by the administration, and to follow the directions of the respective district authorities until weather conditions improve. (ANI)
