The rain and snowfall experienced in the higher reaches of the State in the recent past failed to deter the enthusiasm of the multitudes undertaking the Char Dham Yatra. More than 19 lakh persons have visited the Char Dham shrines since the pilgrimage began in the last week of April. According to official data provided on Thursday, 19,32,681 persons have visited the Char Dham shrines of Badrinath in Chamoli district, Kedarnath in Rudraprayag district, and the Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines in Uttarkashi district so far. Apart from this, 18,577 people have visited the Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara. Official records show that 5,42,498 persons have visited Badrinath so far while 6,69,310 have visited Kedarnath, 3,77,373 have visited Gangotri and 3,43,500 have visited Yamunotri so far. On Thursday, 18,065 persons visited Badrinath, 22,801 visited Kedarnath, 7,897 visited Gangotri, 9,735 visited Yamunotri and 1,503 visited the Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara.
The government has so far provided emergency medical services to 11,328 persons undertaking the Char Dham Yatra. Further, a total of 14,713 persons have given an undertaking to the authorities before going ahead on the pilgrimage while 45 have been sent back due to health reasons. It is pertinent to mention here that unseasonal rain and snowfall in the higher reaches had temporarily affected the Char Dham Yatra but it has continued despite the inclement weather experienced in the recent past.
