Rudraprayag: The inclement weather condition has been posing a big challenge for pilgrims undertaking the Char Dham Yatra. The region has been experiencing uninterrupted snowfall. The Rudraprayag police have been appealing to pilgrims to proceed on the yatra route when the weather turns conducive.
In the wake of the huge rush of devotees, the Uttarakhand government has urged the pilgrims to register for the Kedarnath Dham pilgrimage only after May 1. Nearly, 30,000 people registered their names for visiting the Kedarnath shrine till May 1. Kedarnath Dham has been witnessing continuous rain and snowfall with temperatures plummeting to minus three degrees Celsius. Due to icy cold waves blowing in the region, elderly pilgrims are the worst affected. So far four people died while on their way to Char Dham Yatra.
Also read: Char Dham Yatra: 2 devotees die due to heart attack
Pilgrims died of heart attacks due to a lack of oxygen in the higher reaches of the Himalayas. So far, more than 2,000 pilgrims have been provided medical assistance by the doctors along the yatra route. As per the data provided by the district administration, more than 70,000 pilgrims visited Kedarnath Dham in the past five days. Sonprayag has been witnessing a huge rush of devotees leading to overcrowding of the area.
To regulate the yatra route, pilgrims are sent to Sonprayag only till 10 am. The pilgrims will undertake the journey from Sonprayag to Gaurikund through a shuttle service. The steep height of 16 km to reach Kedarnath Dham starts from Gaurikund. Sonprayag and Gaurikund barriers are opened at 4 am for pilgrims to undertake the Char Dham Yatra. Due to inclement weather conditions, the Gaurikund barrier is closed at noon.
