Uttarakhand govt issues SOPs for Char Dham Yatra

The Uttarakhand govt on Friday issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) for devotees visiting the four dhams. Registration & e-pass will be mandatory for the 'darshan' and it's also necessary to have either both the doses of COVID19 vaccine or negative COVID report not older than 72 hours.

Dehradun:The Uttarakhand government on Friday issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) for devotees visiting the four dhams. Registration & e-pass will be mandatory for the 'darshan' and it's also necessary to have either the doses of COVID19 vaccine or negative COVID report not older than 72 hours. For devotees from Kerala, Maharashtra & Andhra Pradesh, a negative COVID report has been made mandatory, regardless of having taken the vaccine.

The devotees have also been prohibited from taking a holy dip in the 'kunds' at the dhams. For compliance with the arrangements related to the journey, the checkpoints set up on the travel routes will also be checked.

If any passenger has any symptoms of infection or if any infection is confirmed at any place inside the state, they would be immediately admitted to the Covid-19 hospitals. Also, a daily darshan limit of 1000 in Badrinath, 800 in Kedarnath, 600 in Gangotri Dham and 400 in Yamunotri Dham has been set.

What else has been mentioned in the SOP?

• Passengers coming to visit Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham will have to get registered.
• E-passes will be issued after registration. Only after that, permission will be given for darshan in the Chardham.
• Prohibition on offering prasad and applying tilak in the temple premises.
• Touching idols and bells in the temple, bathing in hot pools have been banned.
• In Kedarnath Dham, only six passengers will be able to have darshan from the hall at a time.
• Devotees will not be allowed to enter the Sanctum Sanctorum.
• Sanitization and cleanliness of temple premises to be done thrice a day.
• Wearing masks, social distancing and Covid protocols are mandatory in temples.
• A Nodal officer will be deployed by the Health Department in each Dham.
• The responsibility of implementing SOPs has been handed to the district administration and SDM.

Earlier on Friday, under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary SS Sandhu, a meeting was held in the Secretariat auditorium with the officers of various departments regarding the safe, orderly and efficient operation of Chardham Yatra. In which the District Magistrates of Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi and Pauri were briefed about important guidelines related to the arrangements made.

Uttarakhand High Court on September 16 had lifted a ban on the Char Dham Yatra making Covid guidelines mandatory. The court was hearing the plea filed by the State government seeking the resumption of yatra in the state. Hearing the plea, the court said people travelling to visit Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri and Rameswaram have to be fully vaccinated and must carry the Covid negative reports along with them.

Previously, Yamunotri Dham was opened on 14th May, Gangotri Dham on 15th May, Kedarnath Dham on 17th May and Badrinath Dham on 18th May, but due to the second wave of the pandemic, the yatra to the holy places were suspended.