Dehradun, Sept. 29 -- Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun/Rudraprayag, 28 Sep: The second phase of the Char Dham Yatra began on 15 September with expectations of a renewed surge in devotees. It may be recalled that, till yesterday, over 45 lakh pilgrims, including those bound for Hemkund Sahib, had done the Char Dham Yatra. More than 15 lakhs had offered worship at Kedarnath alone. But in contrast to these figures, persistent rainfall, infrastructure damage and calamities along the route have sharply diminished the flow of pilgrims to Kedarnath Dham, resulting in serious distress for the local population dependent on pilgrimage-driven commerce.
Traders and hoteliers in Gaurikund, along the trek routes and in villages en route to Kedarnath have v...