CM Dhami Reviews Char Dham Yatra 2026 Arrangements, Directs Officials to Ensure Safe and Smooth Pilgrimage
Over 50.56 lakh pilgrims have had darshan at Char Dham and Hemkund Sahib by September 14; more than 66.07 lakh registrations recorded
Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday reviewed the arrangements for the ongoing Char Dham Yatra 2026 through a video conference. He interacted with the district magistrates of the districts associated with the pilgrimage and took stock of arrangements related to travel routes, traffic management, health services, security, sanitation and other essential facilities.
The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that the safety, convenience and smooth movement of pilgrims remain the top priority throughout the pilgrimage.
According to officials, a total of 66,07,749 pilgrims have registered for Char Dham Yatra 2026 so far. By 7 pm on September 14, as many as 50,56,160 devotees had visited Char Dham and Hemkund Sahib.
The figures include 7,08,407 pilgrims at Yamunotri, 7,89,773 at Gangotri, 14,98,544 at Kedarnath, 17,36,619 at Badrinath and 3,22,817 at Hemkund Sahib.
Continuous Monitoring of Weather and Landslide-Prone Areas
CM Dhami directed officials to continuously monitor weather conditions and landslide-prone locations along the pilgrimage routes. Adequate security arrangements should be maintained at vulnerable points, while coordination among all concerned departments should be strengthened.
He also directed officials to keep immediate relief and rescue arrangements ready to respond swiftly to any emergency situation.
To manage traffic pressure during the pilgrimage, the Chief Minister asked officials to ensure that all necessary facilities at holding areas remain properly organised. He stressed that traffic management should be planned in a manner that prevents unnecessary inconvenience to pilgrims.
Additional Horse Stand Proposed Near Yamunotri
Considering the crowd and movement of pilgrims at Yamunotri Dham, the Chief Minister directed officials to develop a second horse stand around 500 metres before the shrine. He also instructed them to streamline Dandi-Kandi services and take necessary action regarding an alternative route from Kharsali.
He directed officials to regulate the movement of pilgrims, horses and mules on the Yamunotri trek route and ensure effective crowd management in the Suryakund area.
The Chief Minister also stressed strict compliance with prescribed standards for the operation of horses and mules. Regular health check-ups of the animals should be ensured, and action should be taken against those violating the prescribed rules.
Special Vigilance on Sensitive Kedarnath Trek Sections
Special vigilance has been directed in the Chirbasa and Bhairav Glacier areas of the Kedarnath trekking route. The Chief Minister said that movement of pilgrims, horses, mules and Dandi-Kandi services should be properly regulated in sensitive locations and immediate rescue arrangements should be available whenever required.
He also directed officials to take necessary action for widening the Yamunotri trekking route and expedite widening and pothole-free work on the Gangotri route.
Continuous monitoring of landslide-prone areas was also stressed, with special vigilance directed in the Syanachatti area.
The Chief Minister further instructed officials to ensure effective traffic management on the Joshimath-Marwari route and maintain adequate machinery so that blocked roads can be cleared at the earliest.
Health Services to Get Priority on Kedarnath and Badrinath Routes
Considering the weather conditions at the four shrines, CM Dhami directed officials to ensure all necessary facilities, including bonfires for pilgrims where required.
He specifically directed that health services along the Kedarnath and Badrinath routes be given priority, with adequate availability of doctors, paramedical personnel, oxygen and emergency medical facilities.
Focus on Sanitation and Essential Facilities
The Chief Minister directed officials to maintain effective sanitation arrangements along the pilgrimage routes and ensure proper disposal of horse and mule dung.
He also stressed the need to maintain efficient arrangements for smooth darshan at the shrines.
Adequate toilets, drinking water, electricity, lighting and shuttle services should be made available along the routes. Regular cleaning of toilets and surprise inspections should also be conducted to ensure proper maintenance.
Emergency Communication in Network Black Spots
CM Dhami directed officials to strengthen emergency communication arrangements in areas facing mobile network problems. He asked the concerned departments to coordinate with telecom companies and take necessary measures to ensure effective communication during emergencies.
Helicopter Services to Follow Prescribed Fares
The Chief Minister directed that tickets for Char Dham helicopter services must be made available strictly at the prescribed fares. He warned that complaints regarding overcharging or unauthorised ticket sales should invite strict action.
He also directed that helicopter operations be conducted keeping weather conditions in mind, with passenger safety remaining the highest priority.
CM Dhami directed all district magistrates and concerned departments to ensure that there is no compromise with the safety and convenience of pilgrims during the Char Dham Yatra. Continuous monitoring of pilgrimage routes and vulnerable locations should be maintained, with immediate action taken in case of any problem.
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu, Principal Secretary R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Home Secretary Shailesh Bagauli and senior officials from the government, administration and concerned departments were present during the meeting.
