Due to the snowfall in Kedarnath and Badrinath and the rains in the low-lying areas, Chardham Yatra has been stopped temporarily by the Srinagar Police as a precautionary measure. Pilgrims are being asked to stay in their nearby cities. Ravi Saini, Station House Officer (SHO), Srinagar while talking to the news agency ANI on Saturday said that there are adequate arrangements for pilgrims to stay in Srinagar and they won't face any kind of problems.
ANI quoted Saini as saying, "Chardham Yatra stopped by Srinagar Police as a precautionary measure due to bad weather at Kedarnath & Badrinath. There are adequate arrangements for staying in Srinagar, and the passengers will not face any kind of problem. Passengers are being appealed to continue their journey when the weather clears up."
Checking points have been made near the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Uttarakhand and near the Badrinath bus stand where the passengers are being stopped. Saini said, "In Srinagar Garhwal police have made checking points near NIT Uttarakhand and near Badrinath bus stand where Chardham Yatris are being stopped and those who have online bookings for a night stay will be allowed to go towards Rudraprayag. But the passengers who have not booked the passes are being appealed to stay in Srinagar only."
On Friday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami advised the pilgrims to plan for the Yatra after clearing all medical tests including Covid-19. He said that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been laid by the state government in various languages, and those undertaking the Yatra this year will need to abide by the same.