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Uttarakhand government imposes ban on mobile phones near Char Dham Temples
In response to the surging number of tourists, the Uttarakhand government has implemented a ban on mobile phone usage within a 200-metre radius of the Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri temples. This measure was decided during a special meeting on the Chardham pilgrimage, chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
The government’s decision comes after the state administration's crowd management efforts proved insufficient within just six days of the commencement of the 2024 Chardham pilgrimage. In addition to the mobile phone ban, authorities have also prohibited photography and video recording within 200 metres of these revered temples to maintain decorum and manage the influx of visitors more effectively.
If reports are to go by, the government has also mandated that only registered vehicles are allowed on the Chardham routes. This step aims to streamline traffic and ensure a safer, more organised pilgrimage experience for the devotees.
Interestingly, this pilgrimage season has seen a footfall twice that of 2023, making crowd management exceedingly difficult. The use of mobile phones near the temples has added to these challenges, causing hindrances in the pilgrimage.
If reports are to go by, the current Chardham pilgrimage season has seen an extraordinary number of devotees, with around 2,800,000 registrations in the past month alone. The surge in pilgrims within the first six days of the pilgrimage season overwhelmed the state’s crowd management efforts, with temple premises witnessing a flow of visitors far exceeding their capacity, raising concerns about potential incidents.
Additionally, the government has emphasised the necessity for all devotees to register before travelling to Uttarakhand for the Chardham pilgrimage. Registration can be done on the Uttarakhand tourism website. As per reports, strict checks will be conducted at all checkpoints, and unregistered devotees will not be allowed to proceed, aiming to prevent mismanagement and ensure a smooth pilgrimage.
The government reassures that the safety of the pilgrims is a top priority, dismissing any reports of stampedes as false. Authorities are committed to taking stringent actions against those spreading fake news.The government’s recent measures aim to address these challenges and ensure a safer and more organised pilgrimage experience for all devotees.
The government’s decision comes after the state administration's crowd management efforts proved insufficient within just six days of the commencement of the 2024 Chardham pilgrimage. In addition to the mobile phone ban, authorities have also prohibited photography and video recording within 200 metres of these revered temples to maintain decorum and manage the influx of visitors more effectively.
If reports are to go by, the government has also mandated that only registered vehicles are allowed on the Chardham routes. This step aims to streamline traffic and ensure a safer, more organised pilgrimage experience for the devotees.
Interestingly, this pilgrimage season has seen a footfall twice that of 2023, making crowd management exceedingly difficult. The use of mobile phones near the temples has added to these challenges, causing hindrances in the pilgrimage.
If reports are to go by, the current Chardham pilgrimage season has seen an extraordinary number of devotees, with around 2,800,000 registrations in the past month alone. The surge in pilgrims within the first six days of the pilgrimage season overwhelmed the state’s crowd management efforts, with temple premises witnessing a flow of visitors far exceeding their capacity, raising concerns about potential incidents.
Additionally, the government has emphasised the necessity for all devotees to register before travelling to Uttarakhand for the Chardham pilgrimage. Registration can be done on the Uttarakhand tourism website. As per reports, strict checks will be conducted at all checkpoints, and unregistered devotees will not be allowed to proceed, aiming to prevent mismanagement and ensure a smooth pilgrimage.
The government reassures that the safety of the pilgrims is a top priority, dismissing any reports of stampedes as false. Authorities are committed to taking stringent actions against those spreading fake news.The government’s recent measures aim to address these challenges and ensure a safer and more organised pilgrimage experience for all devotees.
Source: Times of India
