Uttarakhand suspends Char Dham Yatra in wake of rising Covid-19 cases

The portals of Yamunotri are scheduled to open on May 14, followed by Gangotri on May 15, Kedarnath on May 17 and Badrinath on May 18.

The temple at Kedarnath. (File Photo)

DRAWING CRITICISM for allowing gatherings at Kumbh Mela amid the Covid surge, the Uttarakhand government Thursday suspended the Char Dham Yatra, which was scheduled to begin in May.

The portals of Yamunotri are scheduled to open on May 14, followed by Gangotri on May 15, Kedarnath on May 17 and Badrinath on May 18.

Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat told reporters, “In the wake of rising Covid infection, Char Dham Yatra has been suspended… The portals will be opened on scheduled time but only priests will perform the rituals inside the shrines. Yatra will remain closed for others.”

Even local residents of the respective districts will not be allowed to enter the Char Dham shrines. Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj said, “We do not want the infection to spread in the hills.”

Lalmani Verma

Lalmani is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, and is based in New Delhi. He covers politics of the Hindi Heartland, tracking BJP, Samajwadi Party, BSP, RLD and other parties based in UP, Bihar and Uttarakhand. Covered the Lok Sabha elections of 2014, 2019 and 2024; Assembly polls of 2012, 2017 and 2022 in UP along with government affairs in UP and Uttarakhand. ... Read More

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