Results for: Uttarakhand

A tempo traveller carrying approximately 17 passengers plunged into a deep gorge along the Badrinath Highway in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand on Saturday. State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) personnel and police officers swiftly arrived at the scene to launch a rescue operation. Two individuals with injuries were promptly transported to a nearby hospital, while efforts are underway to rescue the remaining passengers. A video shared by the SDRF on social media captures the aftermath of the accident, and further updates are expected as they become available.

Four trekkers from Karnataka lost their lives in Uttarakhand due to severe weather conditions. The trekking group consisted of 18 trekkers from Karnataka, one from Maharashtra, and three local guides. A joint air-ground operation is underway to rescue the stranded trekkers by the Indian Air Force, National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, and other local authorities. Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has also arrived in Dehradun to coordinate the rescue efforts. The identity of the deceased trekkers has not yet been released.

On May 28th at 6:43 am, the National Center for Seismology (NMS) reported an earthquake of magnitude 3.1 on the Richter Scale in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. The earthquake was felt in several areas of the district, but no significant damage or injuries have been reported at this time.

Pilgrimage tourism in India is experiencing a resurgence, with travel agencies reporting a surge in demand ranging from 30% to 100% compared to last summer. Despite the heat, travelers are flocking to popular pilgrimage destinations such as Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Uttarakhand, the Char Dham circuit, and Tirupati. Hotel companies are also benefiting from the increased demand, with Sarovar Hotels & Resorts projecting a significant contribution from religious and pilgrimage travel. The hotel industry is expected to record a 7-9% revenue growth in FY25, underpinned by domestic leisure travel, including pilgrimage tourism.

A helicopter carrying seven people, including pilgrims, made an emergency landing in Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath on Friday after developing a technical snag. The pilot quickly took a decision and landed the chopper safely, averting a major mishap. All occupants, including six pilgrims and the pilot, are safe and sound. The incident occurred around 7 am today, and the pilgrims were able to continue their pilgrimage after the incident. The Char Dham Yatra, a pilgrimage tour of four holy sites, has commenced this year, with around 26 lakh devotees registered to participate. The Uttarakhand government has extended the ban on VIP darshan until May 31 to ensure equal access for all devotees.

The Badrinath-Rishikesh highway has been closed near Sirobagadh due to heavy rains, just a day after the Char Dham Yatra commenced this year. Passengers heading to Badrinath and Kedarnath have been stopped at Srikot-Srinagar and Kaliyasod. The road has not been opened yet due to continuous debris falling in Sirobagadh.

Pilgrims planning to visit Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand must register online or at designated points to avoid being denied entry. The holy shrine, dedicated to Lord Shiva, will open its doors on Akshay Tritiya (May 10) and remain accessible until Kartik Purnima (November 15). The registration process helps authorities track visitor numbers and provide support in case of emergencies.

The Supreme Court has strongly criticized the Uttarakhand government for its lack of preventive measures in tackling the ongoing forest fires in the state. The court emphasized that cloud seeding or relying on divine intervention is not a solution to the problem and urged the authorities to take proactive steps to address the issue. The Uttarakhand government informed the court that 0.1% of the state’s forest cover had been affected by the fires, which have claimed five lives since November 2022. The court was also informed that 388 criminal cases had been registered in connection with the fires and 60 people had been named in those cases.

Uttarakhand has been battling relentless forest fires, resulting in the tragic death of a 65-year-old woman who sustained burn injuries while attempting to extinguish a blaze near her farm in Pauri tehsil. This marks the fifth fatality attributed to wildfires in the past three days. In response to this escalating crisis, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has called for a statewide ban on fodder burning and solid waste incineration in forests and surrounding areas for a week, with strict enforcement by District Magistrates. Additionally, flight operations at Pithoragarh’s Naini-Saini airport have been suspended due to limited visibility caused by smoke and haze. The Meteorological Center in Dehradun predicts rainfall in the state from May 7-8, potentially mitigating the severity of the fires.

Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board and Starscapes have partnered to launch Nakshatra Sabha, a pioneering astro-tourism venture that offers an immersive celestial journey in Uttarakhand. This initiative empowers participants to explore the wonders of the night sky through stargazing nights, solar viewings, astrophotography competitions, and overnight camping experiences beneath the celestial canopy. Nakshatra Sabha aims to create a vibrant community where astronomy enthusiasts, adventure seekers, and tourists can gather to appreciate the universe amidst Uttarakhand’s pristine landscapes.