News Analysis India

Tag: Uttarakhand

  • Uttarakhand situation grim, Himachal tourism in tatters

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN:  Normal life remains completely disrupted in Uttarakhand after heavy rains and landslides for the last one week. Rivers are overflowing and highways continues to be inaccessible as debris after landslips are yet to be removed.

    As the situation is grim, the education department has issued  schools in sensitive areas have been asked to go for online classes. Speaking to this daily, state Education Director Banshidhar Tiwari said, “In view of the current weather conditions, some new guidelines have been issued from the point of view of the safety of school children. Under these, schools have been instructed to opt for online classes in sensitive areas where there is excessive rainfall and until there is complete relief from the rains.”

    According to information received from the state disaster control room, “Dharasu-band of Uttarkashi district is closed due to debris on Rishikesh-Yamunotri national highway”.  The Karnaprayag-Gairsain national highway was also closed after the road at Kalimati near Gairsain was washed away.

    “The Badrinath National Highway between Nandprayag and Badrinath in Chamoli district was closed at five places due to landslide debris. The national highway between Badrinath and Yamunotri has been closed due to landslides triggered by recent heavy rains”, the state disaster control room spokesperson said.

    State Disaster Response Force Commandant Manikant Mishra said, “SDRF personnel with rescue equipment are still deployed where the route is blocked by the devastation caused by the cloudburst on Friday and Saturday”. “Heavy rains in Uttarkashi wreaked havoc in the Yamuna valley, causing three rivulets in the valley region to overflow”, Commandant Mishra said.

    According to the information received, “The Quick Response Team has also not been able to reach the spot due to the blocking of stones and debris due to continuous rains. Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls’ School in Barkot tehsil was flooded after a cloudburst.

    State Meteorological Centre Director Dr Vikram Singh told, “Heavy rains may occur at a few places in Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts, while on the other hand, light to moderate rain may occur at most places in Dehradun, Pauri, Chamoli, Nainital and Bageshwar districts on July 24”.

    Pregnant woman among pilgrims stranded on Yamunotri roadDehradun: Char Dham Yatra devotees find themselves stranded at various places on the Yamunotri Highway. While many devotees decided to go back to Gangotri Dham from Kharari Badkot, some groups are stuck in the middle due to the closure of roads at various places. District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said, “The road near Gangotri National Highway location Sunagar has become smooth, but the Yamunotri Highway is still closed at many places.” Due to continuous rain, the process of falling stones from the mountainous area continues. Meanwhile, a pregnant woman from Kharshaligaon village in laour was stranded on the yatra route as Yamunotri Highway was closed.

    DEHRADUN:  Normal life remains completely disrupted in Uttarakhand after heavy rains and landslides for the last one week. Rivers are overflowing and highways continues to be inaccessible as debris after landslips are yet to be removed.

    As the situation is grim, the education department has issued  schools in sensitive areas have been asked to go for online classes. Speaking to this daily, state Education Director Banshidhar Tiwari said, “In view of the current weather conditions, some new guidelines have been issued from the point of view of the safety of school children. Under these, schools have been instructed to opt for online classes in sensitive areas where there is excessive rainfall and until there is complete relief from the rains.”

    According to information received from the state disaster control room, “Dharasu-band of Uttarkashi district is closed due to debris on Rishikesh-Yamunotri national highway”.  The Karnaprayag-Gairsain national highway was also closed after the road at Kalimati near Gairsain was washed away.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “The Badrinath National Highway between Nandprayag and Badrinath in Chamoli district was closed at five places due to landslide debris. The national highway between Badrinath and Yamunotri has been closed due to landslides triggered by recent heavy rains”, the state disaster control room spokesperson said.

    State Disaster Response Force Commandant Manikant Mishra said, “SDRF personnel with rescue equipment are still deployed where the route is blocked by the devastation caused by the cloudburst on Friday and Saturday”. “Heavy rains in Uttarkashi wreaked havoc in the Yamuna valley, causing three rivulets in the valley region to overflow”, Commandant Mishra said.

    According to the information received, “The Quick Response Team has also not been able to reach the spot due to the blocking of stones and debris due to continuous rains. Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls’ School in Barkot tehsil was flooded after a cloudburst.

    State Meteorological Centre Director Dr Vikram Singh told, “Heavy rains may occur at a few places in Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts, while on the other hand, light to moderate rain may occur at most places in Dehradun, Pauri, Chamoli, Nainital and Bageshwar districts on July 24”.

    Pregnant woman among pilgrims stranded on Yamunotri road
    Dehradun: Char Dham Yatra devotees find themselves stranded at various places on the Yamunotri Highway. While many devotees decided to go back to Gangotri Dham from Kharari Badkot, some groups are stuck in the middle due to the closure of roads at various places. District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said, “The road near Gangotri National Highway location Sunagar has become smooth, but the Yamunotri Highway is still closed at many places.” Due to continuous rain, the process of falling stones from the mountainous area continues. Meanwhile, a pregnant woman from Kharshaligaon village in laour was stranded on the yatra route as Yamunotri Highway was closed.

  • Chamoli tragedy: All 11 injured airlifted to AIIMS, 1661 electrocuted in state since formation

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Following the tragedy in which 16 people were electrocuted after a transformer burst in Namami Gange Project in Chamoli, the 11 who were seriously injured have been airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh from Gopeshwar. While six were sent by Wednesday night, the other five were sent on Thursday. The condition of four of the injured remains critical.

    Traders across the district, including Gopeshwar, Pipalkoti, Joshimath, Karnprayag and Gochar, kept their establishments closed as a mark of respect to the deceased. On Thursday, eleven of the victims were cremated together on the banks of the Alaknanda in Chamoli. Five had been cremated on Wednesday. People from across the region came to pay homage to the victims.

    “Prima facie investigation has observed that if a high current had passed through the meter, it would have burst, but it is completely safe,” Uttarakhand Power Corporation Director (Operations) M L Prasad told The New Indian Express.

    “Preliminary investigations have not revealed negligence on the part of any of our staff. The distribution panel burned down, indicating that a short circuit may have occurred, leading to a glitch in the changeover switch,” Prasad said.

    Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reached Gopeshwar on Thursday and met kin of the victims in Chamoli. Meanwhile, Congress workers started a ruckus outside the police guest house and sat on a sit-in. On the other hand, BJP workers also started shouting slogans against the Congress.

    Later in Chamoli, Leader of Opposition Yashpal Arya, Manish Khanduri and MLA Rajendra Bhandari met the Chief Minister and demanded compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the families of the victims and a job to one of the family members. Party workers then again went to the protest site at the gate of the district hospital where they raised slogans like “Chief Minister go back”.

    Congress leader Harak Singh Rawat said, “This is not an accident, but a major negligence on the part of the government and administration. The culprits should be booked for murder. The energy department is with the chief minister, so if the CM feels any pain from the incident, he should resign on moral grounds.”

    1661 people have been electrocuted in Uttarakhand since the formation of the state

    In Uttarakhand, 1661 people have lost their lives due to electrocution since the formation of the state in 2000, while 206 fire accidents have occurred due to electric short circuits across the state.

    Surprisingly, there has not been a single year between 2001 and 2023 when there have been no accidental deaths due to electrocution.

    According to sources in the Power Corporation, except for eight deaths in 2008, 26 to 160 people have died every year.

    As many as 439 people have been seriously injured, many of whom have been disabled for life. In 2017, the highest number of 160 people died due to electrocution.

    DEHRADUN: Following the tragedy in which 16 people were electrocuted after a transformer burst in Namami Gange Project in Chamoli, the 11 who were seriously injured have been airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh from Gopeshwar. While six were sent by Wednesday night, the other five were sent on Thursday. The condition of four of the injured remains critical.

    Traders across the district, including Gopeshwar, Pipalkoti, Joshimath, Karnprayag and Gochar, kept their establishments closed as a mark of respect to the deceased. On Thursday, eleven of the victims were cremated together on the banks of the Alaknanda in Chamoli. Five had been cremated on Wednesday. People from across the region came to pay homage to the victims.

    “Prima facie investigation has observed that if a high current had passed through the meter, it would have burst, but it is completely safe,” Uttarakhand Power Corporation Director (Operations) M L Prasad told The New Indian Express.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Preliminary investigations have not revealed negligence on the part of any of our staff. The distribution panel burned down, indicating that a short circuit may have occurred, leading to a glitch in the changeover switch,” Prasad said.

    Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reached Gopeshwar on Thursday and met kin of the victims in Chamoli. Meanwhile, Congress workers started a ruckus outside the police guest house and sat on a sit-in. On the other hand, BJP workers also started shouting slogans against the Congress.

    Later in Chamoli, Leader of Opposition Yashpal Arya, Manish Khanduri and MLA Rajendra Bhandari met the Chief Minister and demanded compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the families of the victims and a job to one of the family members. Party workers then again went to the protest site at the gate of the district hospital where they raised slogans like “Chief Minister go back”.

    Congress leader Harak Singh Rawat said, “This is not an accident, but a major negligence on the part of the government and administration. The culprits should be booked for murder. The energy department is with the chief minister, so if the CM feels any pain from the incident, he should resign on moral grounds.”

    1661 people have been electrocuted in Uttarakhand since the formation of the state

    In Uttarakhand, 1661 people have lost their lives due to electrocution since the formation of the state in 2000, while 206 fire accidents have occurred due to electric short circuits across the state.

    Surprisingly, there has not been a single year between 2001 and 2023 when there have been no accidental deaths due to electrocution.

    According to sources in the Power Corporation, except for eight deaths in 2008, 26 to 160 people have died every year.

    As many as 439 people have been seriously injured, many of whom have been disabled for life. In 2017, the highest number of 160 people died due to electrocution.

  • Uttarakhand monsoon ‘mayhem’: Red alert issued for seven districts; relief teams on high alert

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Rains lashed many places in Uttarakhand on Sunday, triggering landslides that blocked several roads, including the Badrinath national highway, officials said.

    Uttarakhand, which is facing a natural water disaster due to torrential and destructive rains, has issued a ‘red’ alert across seven districts for the next three days.

    The State Meteorological Centre has issued a red alert for Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Haridwar, Champawat, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar for July 17. At the same time, there is an orange alert across the state on July 18. Whereas, there is a yellow alert of rain in all districts for July 19.

    Meteorological Department Director Dr Bikram Singh told TNIE: “A red alert has been declared in view of the possibility of lightning with heavy rains and thunderstorms.”

    Designated officers and departmental nodal officers of the IRS system of disaster management have also been instructed to remain vigilant.

    State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Commandant Manikant Mishra told this newspaper, “Additional forces of SDRF’s water police have been deployed at sensitive waterlogged places so that rescue can be done in a short time in case of any untoward incidents.”

    According to information received from the District Disaster Management Control Room Haridwar, “The situation in rural areas remains stable due to lack of more rain on Sunday.”

    The abutment of a bridge on the Joshimath-Malari road was damaged due to debris and excess water flowing into the Girthi Ganga river at Niti Ghati in Chamoli district’s Joshimath.

    “The platform of the Graf bridge on the Joshimath-Malari motorway has been damaged due to excessive water and debris in the Gruthi Ganga river, about eight kilometres from Malari to Sumna,” Joshimath SDM Kumkum Joshi told this newspaper.

    There was no movement of common people on the said motor bridge, which was only used by the Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

    Meanwhile, rescue and relief operations continued in flood-hit areas in Haridwar.

    National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Army and police are carrying out the operations in Roorkee, Bhagwanpur, Laksar and Haridwar tehsils, the officials said.

    In these tehsils, 3,756 families have been affected in 71 villages. Of these families, 81 have been shifted to relief camps, they said.

    Five people have died in these areas due to the floods. Seven houses have been completely damaged and 201 suffered partial damage. Seventeen roads and nine bridges have also been damaged due to the heavy rains in Haridwar, they added.

    The water level in the Kali River in Pithoragarh district’s Dharchula has crossed the warning level of 889 metres, while several other rivers, including the Ganga, are flowing close to the danger mark, the officials said.

    At 70 mm, Kapkot received the maximum rainfall in the state in the last 24 hours, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre.

    Mussoorie received 61 mm of rainfall, Karnprayag 57 mm, Chamoli 54.4 mm, Nagthat 53 mm, Mohkampur 48 mm, Vikasnagar 41 mm and Uttarkashi 39 mm.

    The officials said 2,000-3,000 cusecs of water were released from the Srinagar Hydro Electric Project dam in the Pauri district as the Alaknanda River was flowing above the warning level, the officials said.

    The State Emergency Operation Center has instructed the district magistrates of Tehri, Pauri, Dehradun and Haridwar to take necessary precautions, they said.

    (With additional inputs from PTI)

    DEHRADUN: Rains lashed many places in Uttarakhand on Sunday, triggering landslides that blocked several roads, including the Badrinath national highway, officials said.

    Uttarakhand, which is facing a natural water disaster due to torrential and destructive rains, has issued a ‘red’ alert across seven districts for the next three days.

    googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The State Meteorological Centre has issued a red alert for Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Haridwar, Champawat, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar for July 17. At the same time, there is an orange alert across the state on July 18. Whereas, there is a yellow alert of rain in all districts for July 19.

    Meteorological Department Director Dr Bikram Singh told TNIE: “A red alert has been declared in view of the possibility of lightning with heavy rains and thunderstorms.”

    Designated officers and departmental nodal officers of the IRS system of disaster management have also been instructed to remain vigilant.

    State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Commandant Manikant Mishra told this newspaper, “Additional forces of SDRF’s water police have been deployed at sensitive waterlogged places so that rescue can be done in a short time in case of any untoward incidents.”

    According to information received from the District Disaster Management Control Room Haridwar, “The situation in rural areas remains stable due to lack of more rain on Sunday.”

    The abutment of a bridge on the Joshimath-Malari road was damaged due to debris and excess water flowing into the Girthi Ganga river at Niti Ghati in Chamoli district’s Joshimath.

    “The platform of the Graf bridge on the Joshimath-Malari motorway has been damaged due to excessive water and debris in the Gruthi Ganga river, about eight kilometres from Malari to Sumna,” Joshimath SDM Kumkum Joshi told this newspaper.

    There was no movement of common people on the said motor bridge, which was only used by the Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

    Meanwhile, rescue and relief operations continued in flood-hit areas in Haridwar.

    National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Army and police are carrying out the operations in Roorkee, Bhagwanpur, Laksar and Haridwar tehsils, the officials said.

    In these tehsils, 3,756 families have been affected in 71 villages. Of these families, 81 have been shifted to relief camps, they said.

    Five people have died in these areas due to the floods. Seven houses have been completely damaged and 201 suffered partial damage. Seventeen roads and nine bridges have also been damaged due to the heavy rains in Haridwar, they added.

    The water level in the Kali River in Pithoragarh district’s Dharchula has crossed the warning level of 889 metres, while several other rivers, including the Ganga, are flowing close to the danger mark, the officials said.

    At 70 mm, Kapkot received the maximum rainfall in the state in the last 24 hours, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre.

    Mussoorie received 61 mm of rainfall, Karnprayag 57 mm, Chamoli 54.4 mm, Nagthat 53 mm, Mohkampur 48 mm, Vikasnagar 41 mm and Uttarkashi 39 mm.

    The officials said 2,000-3,000 cusecs of water were released from the Srinagar Hydro Electric Project dam in the Pauri district as the Alaknanda River was flowing above the warning level, the officials said.

    The State Emergency Operation Center has instructed the district magistrates of Tehri, Pauri, Dehradun and Haridwar to take necessary precautions, they said.

    (With additional inputs from PTI)

  • Heavy rainfall and landslides worsen situation in Uttarakhand

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Heavy rains and landslides in the hilly and high-altitude areas of Uttarakhand have disrupted normal life and severely affected traffic, while flood-like conditions have arisen due to waterlogging caused by incessant rains in the plains of the state. According to the forecast of the State Meteorological Department, there is a possibility of some relief from the weather outbreak from Friday.

    According to information received from the District Disaster Management Office, “More than 30 houses have been damaged in the Roorkee Rural area, while the roof of six has collapsed.” On the other hand, many colonies of Laksar were flooded, and roads were also submerged. The embankment on the Solani river has also broken in two places. Due to this, there is a flood situation in 24 villages.

    District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar told The New Indian Express, “Gangotri highway has been closed due to landslides near Helgugad due to heavy rains. Due to this vehicles have been stopped in Bhatwadi and Gangnani.” 

    According to district disaster management sources, “The Yamunotri highway between Jhargarh and Ranachatti has been closed due to landslides. Efforts are being made to open the highway.” At the same time, devotees are waiting for the highway to open along with locals trapped on both sides in torrential rains.

    “Since July 1, the state has received seven per cent more rainfall than normal,” said State Meteorological Department Director Vikram Singh. This spell of weather is expected to continue till Friday.

    Due to heavy rains, it has also had a direct impact on the roads. More than 1,500 roads have been closed so far due to landslides and other reasons in the hilly areas. Secretary, PWD, Dr Pankaj Gupta told this newspaper, “Due to continuous rains for the last few days, the closure of roads has increased, however, action is also being taken to open them at the same pace as the roads have been blocked”.

    “Along with human resources, GPS-enabled machines have also been installed at identified places and every road is being continuously monitored at the government level. Seven bridges have also been damaged due to the situation arising out of heavy rains in the state,” Secretary Gupta added.

    Deputy Tehsildar Shridhar Nautiyal said, “Late on Tuesday night, a car coming from Dugadda towards Kotdwar fell uncontrollably into the Khoh river due to mud on the road. Four people were missing since the accident, while the police and SDRF team conducted a search operation till late at night and recovered the body of Israr’s resident village Baneda Bijnor.”

    According to police sources in Haridwar, on Wednesday, Arslan, the eight-year-old son of Subhan Ali, a resident of Mohammadpur Kunhari village in the Sultanpur area, was bathing in the rain along with some children. The children reached the edge of the pit while bathing in the rain. During this time, Arslan’s leg slipped and he fell into the pit. About three hours later, the body was pulled out of the pit.

    The Central Zonal Council meeting scheduled for July 15 in Narendranagar in Uttarakhand has been postponed in view of heavy rains. The meeting was to be chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

    Amid heavy rains, Governor Gurmeet Singh also suddenly reached the Disaster Operation Center at the Secretariat on Wednesday afternoon. The Governor inquired about the damage caused by the rain from the officials.

    DEHRADUN: Heavy rains and landslides in the hilly and high-altitude areas of Uttarakhand have disrupted normal life and severely affected traffic, while flood-like conditions have arisen due to waterlogging caused by incessant rains in the plains of the state. According to the forecast of the State Meteorological Department, there is a possibility of some relief from the weather outbreak from Friday.

    According to information received from the District Disaster Management Office, “More than 30 houses have been damaged in the Roorkee Rural area, while the roof of six has collapsed.” On the other hand, many colonies of Laksar were flooded, and roads were also submerged. The embankment on the Solani river has also broken in two places. Due to this, there is a flood situation in 24 villages.

    District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar told The New Indian Express, “Gangotri highway has been closed due to landslides near Helgugad due to heavy rains. Due to this vehicles have been stopped in Bhatwadi and Gangnani.” googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    According to district disaster management sources, “The Yamunotri highway between Jhargarh and Ranachatti has been closed due to landslides. Efforts are being made to open the highway.” At the same time, devotees are waiting for the highway to open along with locals trapped on both sides in torrential rains.

    “Since July 1, the state has received seven per cent more rainfall than normal,” said State Meteorological Department Director Vikram Singh. This spell of weather is expected to continue till Friday.

    Due to heavy rains, it has also had a direct impact on the roads. More than 1,500 roads have been closed so far due to landslides and other reasons in the hilly areas. Secretary, PWD, Dr Pankaj Gupta told this newspaper, “Due to continuous rains for the last few days, the closure of roads has increased, however, action is also being taken to open them at the same pace as the roads have been blocked”.

    “Along with human resources, GPS-enabled machines have also been installed at identified places and every road is being continuously monitored at the government level. Seven bridges have also been damaged due to the situation arising out of heavy rains in the state,” Secretary Gupta added.

    Deputy Tehsildar Shridhar Nautiyal said, “Late on Tuesday night, a car coming from Dugadda towards Kotdwar fell uncontrollably into the Khoh river due to mud on the road. Four people were missing since the accident, while the police and SDRF team conducted a search operation till late at night and recovered the body of Israr’s resident village Baneda Bijnor.”

    According to police sources in Haridwar, on Wednesday, Arslan, the eight-year-old son of Subhan Ali, a resident of Mohammadpur Kunhari village in the Sultanpur area, was bathing in the rain along with some children. The children reached the edge of the pit while bathing in the rain. During this time, Arslan’s leg slipped and he fell into the pit. About three hours later, the body was pulled out of the pit.

    The Central Zonal Council meeting scheduled for July 15 in Narendranagar in Uttarakhand has been postponed in view of heavy rains. The meeting was to be chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

    Amid heavy rains, Governor Gurmeet Singh also suddenly reached the Disaster Operation Center at the Secretariat on Wednesday afternoon. The Governor inquired about the damage caused by the rain from the officials.

  • Destination weddings: Couples tie knot at temple where Shiva and Parvati were married

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: The Triyuginarayan temple in Triyugi village in Uttarakhand has turned into a site for destination weddings, with couples following in the footsteps of Shiva and Parvati whose marriage was solemnised here according to the Puranas.

    Speaking to The New Indian Express, Yogendra Singh, chief executive officer of Badri Kedar Temple Committee, said, “The committee will soon prepare an action plan to provide basic amenities to couples coming here with the aim of tying the knot.”

    “More than 50 marriages have taken place in Triyuginarayan since Makar Sankranti this year,” Uttarakhand Tirthpurohit Samiti secretary Sarveshvanand Semwal told The New Indian Express. “There have been 30 marriages in May-June alone. In 2022, there were 85 weddings throughout the season. Weddings have been booked here till March 2024,” he added.

    Semwal further said, “Triyuginarayan is the site where the divine marriage of Shiva and Parvati during the ‘Satyuga’ took place in the presence of the holy fire, which still burns for eternity in front of the temple in havan-kund, a four-cornered chimney on the ground.”

    “According to the scriptures, pilgrims coming to this temple take the ashes emanating from the burning fire with them as sacred. It is also believed that the ashes emanating from this fire deepen marital bliss,” he added.

    Located in Rudraprayag district, about 250 km from state capital Dehradun, the temple also has ancient pools with special significance. In the last two decades, many celebrities have tied the knot here, including Higher Education Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, artist Kavita Kaushik, Nikita Sharma, Jitendra Aseda, IPS officer Aparna Gautam, IAS officer Lalit Mohan Rayal and SDM Jitendra Verma.

    However, priests of the temple are disappointed that the facilities here have not been renovated even five years after then CM Trivendra Singh Rawat had announced that it would be turned into the prime wedding destination of Uttarakhand.

    DEHRADUN: The Triyuginarayan temple in Triyugi village in Uttarakhand has turned into a site for destination weddings, with couples following in the footsteps of Shiva and Parvati whose marriage was solemnised here according to the Puranas.

    Speaking to The New Indian Express, Yogendra Singh, chief executive officer of Badri Kedar Temple Committee, said, “The committee will soon prepare an action plan to provide basic amenities to couples coming here with the aim of tying the knot.”

    “More than 50 marriages have taken place in Triyuginarayan since Makar Sankranti this year,” Uttarakhand Tirthpurohit Samiti secretary Sarveshvanand Semwal told The New Indian Express. “There have been 30 marriages in May-June alone. In 2022, there were 85 weddings throughout the season. Weddings have been booked here till March 2024,” he added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Semwal further said, “Triyuginarayan is the site where the divine marriage of Shiva and Parvati during the ‘Satyuga’ took place in the presence of the holy fire, which still burns for eternity in front of the temple in havan-kund, a four-cornered chimney on the ground.”

    “According to the scriptures, pilgrims coming to this temple take the ashes emanating from the burning fire with them as sacred. It is also believed that the ashes emanating from this fire deepen marital bliss,” he added.

    Located in Rudraprayag district, about 250 km from state capital Dehradun, the temple also has ancient pools with special significance. In the last two decades, many celebrities have tied the knot here, including Higher Education Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, artist Kavita Kaushik, Nikita Sharma, Jitendra Aseda, IPS officer Aparna Gautam, IAS officer Lalit Mohan Rayal and SDM Jitendra Verma.

    However, priests of the temple are disappointed that the facilities here have not been renovated even five years after then CM Trivendra Singh Rawat had announced that it would be turned into the prime wedding destination of Uttarakhand.

  • Uttarakhand BJP expresses anger over same-sex marriage proposals received by Uniform Civil Code

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: The Sadhu Samaj, including senior state BJP leaders, has strongly objected to the possibility of implementing ‘same-sex marriages’ in the final draft of the Uniform Civil Code.

    The party leaders, while expressing their concern before the committee, have asked the state government to refrain from implementing any such decision containing psychosis.

    “90 per cent of the work on the Uniform Civil Code Act has been completed,” said CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, who arrived at the Haridwar meeting.

    “On June 30, the committee will submit its report to the government. Our government is committed to curbing demographic changes and bringing a uniform law for all citizens of Uttarakhand,” assured CM Pushkar Singh Dhami.

    ‘Same-sex marriages’, conversion, demographic change, land and love jihad were discussed on the first day of the meeting of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s central guiding board at Nishkam Seva Ashram in Kankhal on Thursday.

    Swami Ravindrapuri, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, told The New Indian Express, “When the issue of same-sex marriages and this debate erupted in the Supreme Court, we strongly opposed it along with vice-chancellors and representatives of Gurukul Kangri University and Sanskrit University.”

    “No civilised society would like the practice of same-sex marriage. If this tradition comes into vogue, one person will also refrain from sitting with another person. This is a sheer refutation of the Sanatan tradition,” Swami Ravindrapuri said.

    Swami Ravindrapuri also pointed out, “The government’s initiative on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is commendable, but the government has to take special care that it does not break the social and cultural fabric.”

    Same-sex marriages are against the basic spirit of our centuries-old rich culture, the system born out of such a perverse mindset has no place in Sanatan culture”, the saints said, strongly condemning such proposals, adding, “The obscenity being served in web series and social media should also be stopped immediately.”

    DEHRADUN: The Sadhu Samaj, including senior state BJP leaders, has strongly objected to the possibility of implementing ‘same-sex marriages’ in the final draft of the Uniform Civil Code.

    The party leaders, while expressing their concern before the committee, have asked the state government to refrain from implementing any such decision containing psychosis.

    “90 per cent of the work on the Uniform Civil Code Act has been completed,” said CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, who arrived at the Haridwar meeting.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “On June 30, the committee will submit its report to the government. Our government is committed to curbing demographic changes and bringing a uniform law for all citizens of Uttarakhand,” assured CM Pushkar Singh Dhami.

    ‘Same-sex marriages’, conversion, demographic change, land and love jihad were discussed on the first day of the meeting of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s central guiding board at Nishkam Seva Ashram in Kankhal on Thursday.

    Swami Ravindrapuri, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, told The New Indian Express, “When the issue of same-sex marriages and this debate erupted in the Supreme Court, we strongly opposed it along with vice-chancellors and representatives of Gurukul Kangri University and Sanskrit University.”

    “No civilised society would like the practice of same-sex marriage. If this tradition comes into vogue, one person will also refrain from sitting with another person. This is a sheer refutation of the Sanatan tradition,” Swami Ravindrapuri said.

    Swami Ravindrapuri also pointed out, “The government’s initiative on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is commendable, but the government has to take special care that it does not break the social and cultural fabric.”

    Same-sex marriages are against the basic spirit of our centuries-old rich culture, the system born out of such a perverse mindset has no place in Sanatan culture”, the saints said, strongly condemning such proposals, adding, “The obscenity being served in web series and social media should also be stopped immediately.”

  • Char Dham Yatra: ‘Students, wildlife hit by chopper pilgrimage in Uttarakhand’, say experts

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Choppers flying pilgrims on a tour of four holy sites (Char Dham Yatra) of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath is having an adverse impact on school children and the environment, claim experts.

    The helicopters make more than 25 trips an hour between Kedarghati and Kedarnath. Experts say these chopper trips are not good for the wildlife and also for the Himalayas. They recalled the 2013 cloudburst centered on Uttarakhand which caused devastating floods and landslides.

    Situated at an altitude of 11,750 feet above sea level, Kedarnath Dham is surrounded by hills on three sides. 

    This pilgrim season, seven aviation companies are involved in ferrying passengers to Kedarnath. The Kedarghati to Kedarnath route is like a two-sided V-shaped narrow valley, which is susceptible.

    Prof Rakesh Kumar Maikhuri, head of the Department of Environmental Sciences at Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Central University, told The New Indian Express that children’s education and environment are adversely affected due to the choppers flying below the prescribed standard altitude in Kedarghati. The DGCA norms prescribe that flights should be operated above 600 meters from the ground, say reports.

    Prof Maikhuri, who studied the impact of helicopter flights in Sirsi, Ravigram and Rampur villages said “The roar of the helicopter distracts the animals. This affects their milking volume process due to changes in their behaviour”.

    “Being a native of the area, I also found in my study that the sound of the choppers has changed the behaviour of pets in villages within a one-kilometre radius of the helipad. Other wild animals including horses and deer living in the wildlife area between Rambada and Kedarnath are disturbed by the sound. This was confirmed by the ‘stool samples’ of wild animals in the investigation. The government was warned thereafter in this regard, but no action has been taken”, Maikhuri said.

    “During the study, we sought the views of children, parents and teachers of schools in that area, which showed that chopper flights have had a very adverse impact on the academic environment as well,” he added.

    Prof Maikhuri said that between 2005 and 2012, he had released a report on the helicopters being operated for Kedarnath, in which he clearly pointed out, “Helicopters flying in Kedarnath are causing problems to the people even in the populated area of Kedarghati.”

    “Environmentalist Jagat Singh ‘Junglee’ said the carbon that a helicopter emits during its flight has a big impact on the environment. The distance from Kedarnath to Chaurabari Tal is only four km, while the air distance is quite short. In such a situation, the impact of the loud sound of the helicopter in the glacier area cannot be ruled out.

    DEHRADUN: Choppers flying pilgrims on a tour of four holy sites (Char Dham Yatra) of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath is having an adverse impact on school children and the environment, claim experts.

    The helicopters make more than 25 trips an hour between Kedarghati and Kedarnath. Experts say these chopper trips are not good for the wildlife and also for the Himalayas. They recalled the 2013 cloudburst centered on Uttarakhand which caused devastating floods and landslides.

    Situated at an altitude of 11,750 feet above sea level, Kedarnath Dham is surrounded by hills on three sides. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    This pilgrim season, seven aviation companies are involved in ferrying passengers to Kedarnath. The Kedarghati to Kedarnath route is like a two-sided V-shaped narrow valley, which is susceptible.

    Prof Rakesh Kumar Maikhuri, head of the Department of Environmental Sciences at Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Central University, told The New Indian Express that children’s education and environment are adversely affected due to the choppers flying below the prescribed standard altitude in Kedarghati. The DGCA norms prescribe that flights should be operated above 600 meters from the ground, say reports.

    Prof Maikhuri, who studied the impact of helicopter flights in Sirsi, Ravigram and Rampur villages said “The roar of the helicopter distracts the animals. This affects their milking volume process due to changes in their behaviour”.

    “Being a native of the area, I also found in my study that the sound of the choppers has changed the behaviour of pets in villages within a one-kilometre radius of the helipad. Other wild animals including horses and deer living in the wildlife area between Rambada and Kedarnath are disturbed by the sound. This was confirmed by the ‘stool samples’ of wild animals in the investigation. The government was warned thereafter in this regard, but no action has been taken”, Maikhuri said.

    “During the study, we sought the views of children, parents and teachers of schools in that area, which showed that chopper flights have had a very adverse impact on the academic environment as well,” he added.

    Prof Maikhuri said that between 2005 and 2012, he had released a report on the helicopters being operated for Kedarnath, in which he clearly pointed out, “Helicopters flying in Kedarnath are causing problems to the people even in the populated area of Kedarghati.”

    “Environmentalist Jagat Singh ‘Junglee’ said the carbon that a helicopter emits during its flight has a big impact on the environment. The distance from Kedarnath to Chaurabari Tal is only four km, while the air distance is quite short. In such a situation, the impact of the loud sound of the helicopter in the glacier area cannot be ruled out.

  • Uttrakhand’s ancient Tungnath temple to be declared a national monument

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Tungnath temple, the third of the five Panchkedars of Uttarakhand, will be declared a national monument. 

    Priests of Badri Kedar Temple Committee have welcomed the government’s decision.

    “The central government issued a notification on March 27, declaring the ancient temple of Tungnath as a monument of national importance,” Devraj Singh Rautela, the officer in charge of the Archaeological Survey of India, told The New Indian Express. 

    Tungnath Temple is situated at an altitude of 12800 feet.

    Located in Rudraprayag district, Tungnath Temple is the only ancient ‘Shivalaya’ of its kind located at the highest point above sea level in Asia. “For a long time, the Archaeological Survey of India has been trying to declare Tungnath as a national heritage, for which the Archaeological Survey of India has finally sought opinions and objections from the public on being declared a national monument”, Routela added.

    Welcoming the central government’s move, the Tungnath temple’s Head Acharya Ram Prasad Maithani told The New Indian Express, “Undoubtedly, with the adoption of Tungnath by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), its presence will definitely get a platform to propagate and spread the mythological temple on the world stage”.

    Acharya Maithani also said, “Though the state government backtracked from its decision to form a Devasthanam Board in the past years, this initiative of the Archaeological Survey of India will definitely give a unique identity to the look of the Tungnath temple in the country and abroad”.

    Highlighting the importance of this mythical temple situated amidst snow-capped surrounding hills, Acharya Maithani told this newspaper, “Tungnath Temple is actually associated with the Panchkedar temples which were built by the Pandavas. It is believed, “The Pandavas were advised by sage Vyasa Rishi, that their sin of killing their cousin Kauravas during the war of Mahabharata can only be forgiven if they worship Lord Shiva”. Facts also say that Lord Rama meditated on the Chandrashila peak around Tungnath.

    DEHRADUN: Tungnath temple, the third of the five Panchkedars of Uttarakhand, will be declared a national monument. 

    Priests of Badri Kedar Temple Committee have welcomed the government’s decision.

    “The central government issued a notification on March 27, declaring the ancient temple of Tungnath as a monument of national importance,” Devraj Singh Rautela, the officer in charge of the Archaeological Survey of India, told The New Indian Express. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Tungnath Temple is situated at an altitude of 12800 feet.

    Located in Rudraprayag district, Tungnath Temple is the only ancient ‘Shivalaya’ of its kind located at the highest point above sea level in Asia. “For a long time, the Archaeological Survey of India has been trying to declare Tungnath as a national heritage, for which the Archaeological Survey of India has finally sought opinions and objections from the public on being declared a national monument”, Routela added.

    Welcoming the central government’s move, the Tungnath temple’s Head Acharya Ram Prasad Maithani told The New Indian Express, “Undoubtedly, with the adoption of Tungnath by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), its presence will definitely get a platform to propagate and spread the mythological temple on the world stage”.

    Acharya Maithani also said, “Though the state government backtracked from its decision to form a Devasthanam Board in the past years, this initiative of the Archaeological Survey of India will definitely give a unique identity to the look of the Tungnath temple in the country and abroad”.

    Highlighting the importance of this mythical temple situated amidst snow-capped surrounding hills, Acharya Maithani told this newspaper, “Tungnath Temple is actually associated with the Panchkedar temples which were built by the Pandavas. It is believed, “The Pandavas were advised by sage Vyasa Rishi, that their sin of killing their cousin Kauravas during the war of Mahabharata can only be forgiven if they worship Lord Shiva”. Facts also say that Lord Rama meditated on the Chandrashila peak around Tungnath.

  • Uttarakhand Finance Minister, aides booked for beating up man in road-rage case

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Finance Minister Prem Chand Agarwal and his aides including the gunner Vinod Rana were booked on Wednesday for allegedly beating up a man in a road-rage case in Rishikesh, police said.

    The minister, his gunner, and a few others were seen beating up a man in a video that has gone viral.

    In the video, Agarwal could be seen standing near his vehicle on the roadside and talking to a resident of Shivaji Nagar, Surendra Singh Negi. Suddenly, the minister could be seen slapping the resident. The minister’s gunner Vinod Rana and a few others soon joined in beating up the man.

    Taking serious note of the incident, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami summoned the minister and ordered the DGP to conduct a fair and transparent inquiry.

    Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Dalip Singh Kanwar told The New Indian Express, “Two persons named Surendra Singh Negi and Dhirendra Singh Prajapati have been named as accused on a complaint lodged by the minister’s gunner.” Similarly, the minister and a few others have been named as accused on a complaint lodged by Surendra Singh Negi.

    Meanwhile, the opposition Congress party workers took to the streets terming the incident as a “direct attack of power on the common man”. The Congress workers staged protests across the state and burnt effigies of the finance minister, raising slogans against him.

    BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt strongly condemned the incident involving the cabinet minister Premchand Agarwal. He also expected public representatives to “behave in a restrained manner” in public places.

    Congress state spokesperson Garima Dasauni also slammed Agarwal over the incident, saying, “Those who are responsible for law and order in the state, when they are violating the law by beating common people, how will there be rule of law in the state”.

    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Finance Minister Prem Chand Agarwal and his aides including the gunner Vinod Rana were booked on Wednesday for allegedly beating up a man in a road-rage case in Rishikesh, police said.

    The minister, his gunner, and a few others were seen beating up a man in a video that has gone viral.

    In the video, Agarwal could be seen standing near his vehicle on the roadside and talking to a resident of Shivaji Nagar, Surendra Singh Negi. Suddenly, the minister could be seen slapping the resident. The minister’s gunner Vinod Rana and a few others soon joined in beating up the man.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Taking serious note of the incident, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami summoned the minister and ordered the DGP to conduct a fair and transparent inquiry.

    Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Dalip Singh Kanwar told The New Indian Express, “Two persons named Surendra Singh Negi and Dhirendra Singh Prajapati have been named as accused on a complaint lodged by the minister’s gunner.” Similarly, the minister and a few others have been named as accused on a complaint lodged by Surendra Singh Negi.

    Meanwhile, the opposition Congress party workers took to the streets terming the incident as a “direct attack of power on the common man”. The Congress workers staged protests across the state and burnt effigies of the finance minister, raising slogans against him.

    BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt strongly condemned the incident involving the cabinet minister Premchand Agarwal. He also expected public representatives to “behave in a restrained manner” in public places.

    Congress state spokesperson Garima Dasauni also slammed Agarwal over the incident, saying, “Those who are responsible for law and order in the state, when they are violating the law by beating common people, how will there be rule of law in the state”.

  • U’khand police devise digital scheme to ease traffic congestion

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: The police in Uttarakhand have decided to try the “OYO app booking style” parking to get rid of traffic congestion. 

    Accordingly, the police joined hands with the ‘Park Plus Mobile Application’ and provided the new app to 400 small, big, paid, and unpaid parking lots in the city.

    Speaking to The New Indian Express about the scheme devised by Director General of Police Ashok Kumar, Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Akshay Konde explained that vehicle owners no longer have to worry about whether they get a parking place. Now they can book parking with one click. The new app will guide the person to the parking lot with the help of GPS.

    “Due to the acute parking problem in the city, there is traffic congestion every day. Hence, the decision to adopt the digital solution”, said Konde.

    The police claim this new traffic experiment will ease traffic congestion and also generate a source of employment for people.

    Akshay Konde said this new service will make parking easier for car owners in Dehradun. The number of vehicles being unnecessarily parked on the routes will get reduced. “Our effort is to make the roads of Dehradun safe and smart”, he said.

    Superintendent of Police, Akshay Konde also informed that traders have welcomed the decision to build parking facility in the old tehsil of Dehradun. It can accommodate 650 vehicles. Congress Traders Cell president Sunil Kumar Banga, Shekhar Kapur, Ram Kapoor, Ajit Singh have also welcomed the new system implemented by the police.

    DEHRADUN: The police in Uttarakhand have decided to try the “OYO app booking style” parking to get rid of traffic congestion. 

    Accordingly, the police joined hands with the ‘Park Plus Mobile Application’ and provided the new app to 400 small, big, paid, and unpaid parking lots in the city.

    Speaking to The New Indian Express about the scheme devised by Director General of Police Ashok Kumar, Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Akshay Konde explained that vehicle owners no longer have to worry about whether they get a parking place. Now they can book parking with one click. The new app will guide the person to the parking lot with the help of GPS.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Due to the acute parking problem in the city, there is traffic congestion every day. Hence, the decision to adopt the digital solution”, said Konde.

    The police claim this new traffic experiment will ease traffic congestion and also generate a source of employment for people.

    Akshay Konde said this new service will make parking easier for car owners in Dehradun. The number of vehicles being unnecessarily parked on the routes will get reduced. “Our effort is to make the roads of Dehradun safe and smart”, he said.

    Superintendent of Police, Akshay Konde also informed that traders have welcomed the decision to build parking facility in the old tehsil of Dehradun. It can accommodate 650 vehicles. Congress Traders Cell president Sunil Kumar Banga, Shekhar Kapur, Ram Kapoor, Ajit Singh have also welcomed the new system implemented by the police.