Uttarakhand mulls over opening Char Dham yatra for select districts; COVID curfew extended

In a new development, the Uttarakhand state government has announced that COVID-related curfew in the hill state will be extended till June 22. Revealing more on the same, state minister Subodh Uniyal said there might be some changes in the rules, but all the old guidelines will remain in place.

However, as a part of rules' relaxation, Char Dham yatra might be opened for the residents of some Uttarakhand districts. Reportedly, residents of Rudraprayag, Chamoli, and Uttarkashi districts might be allowed to visit the Char Dham sites of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri, respectively. The state government will take a decision regarding this after June 16.
Earlier, it was decided that although COVID curfew has been extended till June 22, residents from Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi would be allowed to visit the respective shrines, but only after they provide a negative RT-PCR report.
Previously, State Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj had also added that the plan was to open Char Dham yatra in a phased manner, first for locals and then for those from outside.
There were also fears that the yatra might turn into another super-spreader, like the Maha Kumbha held in Haridwar, because of which only portals of the shrines were opened initially for a ritual worship by the priests.

Reportedly, portals of the Yamunotri shrine opened on May 14, Gangotri on May 15, Kedarnath on May 17, whereas the portals of Badrinath opened on May 18.