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Dehradun: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has instructed the Uttarakhand government to present an affidavit detailing the pilgrim carrying capacity for the Char Dham shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri amid concerns about the dangers of overcrowding.
In May 2022, the state government set a limit on the number of pilgrims at these shrines, but the order was retracted in April 2023. The lack of a specified carrying capacity has raised safety concerns. A significant incident occurred during the opening ceremony of the temples for the summer season when a large number of pilgrims were trapped on a narrow path next to a perilous ravine. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but it underscored the risks of overcrowding.
Previously, the NGT had ordered the state’s environment department secretary to disclose the government’s position on potential accidents. The official claimed that the state had established a pilgrim threshold, but the tribunal did not find any such directive. Consequently, the NGT has given the state a one-week extension to submit the necessary documentation.
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