Char Dham Yatra opens to mixed response

The Uttarakhand High Court’s recent go-ahead to the Char Dham Yatra in the state has evoked mixed responses, coming as it does at a time when the number of COVID cases is not declining beyond a certain point in the country or Uttarakhand.

While the High Court’s decision has provided much relief to tour operators, hoteliers, restaurant owners and others associated with the Char Dham Yatra, there is concern that a lapse in proper precautions like wearing masks and social distancing may lead to a surge in COVID cases.

In fact, there are reports across the country of an increase in both cases and deaths resulting from COVID-19. The virus is holding out strongly in Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra as well as Mizoram in the North-East.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand has seen a disconcertingly stubborn trend in the hill districts, which indicates that there is a reservoir of infection among the people that only higher rates of testing would identify. Also, with children returning to school, a rising number of cases have been reported among them in some states.

However, activist Shashi Uniyal of Himmothhan, a Tata Trusts NGO that has been working in the state since 2007, claims that vaccination efforts in Uttarakhand are far better than in other states and that about 70 per cent of the population have been given the COVID vaccine.  “The High Court’s order has provided much relief to the hill people who have been suffering extreme hardships with curfew restrictions as economic activity came to a virtual halt.”

At the same time, he agrees that strict protocols need to be implemented during the yatra season and pilgrims and other tourists must observe these diligently.

Rules for pilgrims as per the High Court’s orders are : Vaccination certificate is mandatory for devotees coming to Uttarakhand 15 days after receiving double dose of vaccination; RT-PCR negative report (within 72 hours of arrival) is mandatory for those who have received the first dose; devotees from Kerala, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh need to be fully vaccinated and carry a RT-PCR report; there is a daily limit of 1,000 pilgrims for Badrinath, 800 for Kedarnath, 600 for Gangotri and 400 for Yamnotri; and no one would be allowed to touch the idols or bells.

 As per the standard operating procedure (SOP), three devotees will be allowed in the sanctum sanctorum of Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamnotri at a given time. Five pilgrims will be allowed at kedarnath as it has a larger area in the sanctum sanctorum compared to the other temples. A six – feet distance would be required to be maintained among all the devotees standing in queue or entering and leaving the temples.

Finally, all pilgrims would need to register themselves at the Smart City portal and thereafter take an e-pass for the pilgrimage which would be valid for a period of two days.

In practice, however, glitches already appear to be occurring. In Shringar, which is the mid-point for the Badri-Kedar yatra, Pradeep Ainthwal of Azim Premji Trusts Foundation, says violations have already been reported in local papers, particularly with regard to fake e-passes. “In Sonprayag ( on way to Kedarnath)  police disallowed 36 travellers who were carrying fake e-passes.”

Meanwhile, the state government has extended the COVID curfew till October 5 which means both pilgrims and local officials will have to be on the alert to ensure no violations of curfew orders which include night curfew.  Markets will be open from 8 am to 9 pm. Hotels, restaurants, eateries and dhabas located in urban areas will remain closed from 10 pm to 6 am.  For migrants returning to their native villages, it will be mandatory to stay in quarantine at the quarantine centres for seven days under the supervision of the village Pradhans.

Under the circumstances, preventive steps need to be strengthened in Uttarakhand along with close scrutiny of visiting tourists including pilgrims. Most worrying is the fact that the festive season is approaching and a relaxed attitude could prove as devastating as in Kerala.

More worrying is the fact the fact that with elections around the corner, the politicians – the very people who should be leading the war against COVID – are already congregating in large numbers without adhering to the necessary precautions.

The only difference today is the fact that a large number of people have been vaccinated. But it would be unwise to let one’s guard down, especially in view of reports of new emerging challenges like the ‘mystery fever’ among children in Uttar Pradesh. So the need of the hour is to continue with speedier vaccination, increased testing and tracking and donning of masks and social distancing.

According to latest data, India’s daily COVID cases continued to cross the 30,000 mark for the last few days. Uttarakhand reported eleven new cases on Monday and zero deaths. – India News Stream