Dehradun

This time many new records have been set by pilgrims during the Char Dham Yatra so far this year. A total of more than 42 lakh devotees have visited the Char Dham shrines, all located above 10,000 feet on "fragile" mountain ranges.

So far, 15.14 lakh pilgrims have visited Badrinath, 14.25 lakh Kedarnath, 6 lakh Gangotri and more than 4.73 lakh Yamunotri.

In this Char Dham Yatra, since the last five years, the maximum number of pilgrims have also died. So far, a total of 311 pilgrims have died in the yatra that began in May. Of this, 135 devotees have died while walking on foot to Kedarnath.

According to the State Health Department, 75 per cent of the total deaths were due to pre-existing serious illnesses and sudden heart attack, while 25 per cent died due to accidents.

After two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this time the Char Dham Yatra has resumed without any restrictions.

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The doors of Gangotri and Yamunotri opened on May 3, while those of Kedarnath Dham opened on May 6 and that of Badrinath on May 8.