After High Court order, Char Dham yatra called off
Covid-19 curfew extended in U’khand till July 6 with further relaxations
DEHRADUN: After the Uttarakhand high court stayed the cabinet decision on allowing Char Dham yatra from July 1, the state government suspended the pilgrimage on Tuesday and issued a revised standard operating procedure (SOP) extending the Covid curfew till July 6.
The SOP issued by the state government on Monday late evening had stated that the yatra would be allowed in two phases from Jul 1 and July 11 -first for locals of the three districts where the four shrines are located, and later for all residents of the state. The state government later issued a revised SOP, stating that Char Dham yatra will remain suspended till further orders following the HC order.
On Monday, HC stayed the state cabinet decision to allow Char Dham yatra, expressing dissatisfaction over the preparedness amid fears of a Covid-19 third wave and the Delta Plus variant. HC said the yatra should not be allowed as the court is not satisfied with the preparedness of the government, especially regarding the healthcare facilities and status of vaccination in the three districts – Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarakashi.
The HC directed the state government to live-stream the daily prayers and rituals held at the shrines for the benefit of the people throughout the country.
Meanwhile, the state government has given more relaxations under the Covid curfew extended till July 6. The district magistrates have been given powers to decide whether they want to allow more relaxations in rural areas.
The state’s protected areas, tiger reserves and zoos will remain open for tourists. The forest department will come up with a separate SOP for the tourists.
Markets will remain open from 8 am to 7 pm on June 29, June 30, July 1, July 2, July 3 and July 5. All gyms in the state will open with 50% occupancy. Vegetable vends, dairy shops, sweet shops and flower shops will remain open from 8 am to 7 pm. Hotels and resorts will open with 50% capacity. Coaching institutes can open with 50% capacity for students of above 18 years.
People who have to get vaccinated will be allowed to travel after they show some proof, such as the message and online acknowledgment document.
RT-PCR test will remain mandatory for wedding attendees whose number has been increased to 50. The number of people attending funerals will not be more than 50.
Uttarakhand started Covid curfew amid a rise in infections last month and has been extending it on a weekly basis. Last time the Covid curfew was clamped in the state from June 22 to June 29.
Uttarakhand has so far reported over 339,000 Covid positive cases and over 7,090 deaths. On Sunday, the state reported 120 fresh Covid cases and three deaths, according to the health department.
The positivity rate in the state has come down to 6.2% and the recovery rate stands at 95.52%. The state has now 2,294 active Covid cases. The case fatality rate in the state has reached 2.09%.