Dehradun: SDC Foundation has flagged serious concerns over the mismanagement during the first 100 days of the Char Dham Yatra 2024.
The foundation, headed by Anoop Nautiyal, has today submitted its mid-term report to Chief Secretary Radha Raturi, urging immediate action to address issues around crowd control, health services, and environmental management.
“The Yatra has become a chaotic race to break records, with little attention to the carrying capacity of these fragile regions,” said Anoop Nautiyal, founder of SDC Foundation.
The report shows that over 32.6 lakh pilgrims visited the Char Dham and Hemkund Sahib between May 10 and August 17, with Kedarnath alone seeing over 10.9 lakh visitors.
Nautiyal presented the "Data Analysis of 100 Days - Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra 2024 Mid-Term Report" to the Chief Secretary, who assured him that it would be forwarded to the Tourism Department for further review.
Key stats from the report reveal that 60% of the pilgrims arrived in the first 30 days, creating a strain on infrastructure and services.
Kedarnath attracted the highest number of visitors, followed by Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri, while Hemkund Sahib saw about 1.49 lakh devotees.
But it’s not just the numbers that are alarming. The report also notes that 183 pilgrims lost their lives during the Yatra, with 89 deaths in Kedarnath alone, mostly due to health issues.
"Deaths have become an annual occurrence, and there’s a need to re-evaluate the entire system," Nautiyal stressed.
During his meeting with Raturi, Nautiyal pushed for a thorough assessment of the Dhams’ carrying capacity and the introduction of stricter limits on daily pilgrim numbers.
“We need to take stock of the situation and sit down with all stakeholders after this year’s Yatra to plan better for the future,” he added.
Anoop didn’t hold back in critiquing the government’s focus on record-breaking pilgrim numbers.
“It’s not about breaking records but ensuring that the Yatra is safe and manageable. The current system is unsustainable,” he said.
The report also highlights problems with online/offline registrations, helicopter services, aero safety, crowd management, and solid waste disposal.
Nautiyal called for better health services and more robust landslide prevention measures to protect both pilgrims and the environment.
While Nautiyal described his meeting with the Chief Secretary as “productive,” it remains to be seen how the government will respond.
“The Chief Secretary assured us that the report will be shared with the necessary officials. Now, it’s time to act,” Nautiyal concluded.
The Char Dham Yatra, which started in May, has drawn millions of pilgrims, but this report serves as a wake-up call that better management is urgently needed.
