Tag: Uttarkhand

  • COVID-19: Uttarakhand government orders DMs to control weekend crowd at tourist places

    By ANI
    DEHRADUN: After a large number of tourists flocked to Uttarakhand, the state government has ordered the District Magistrate to control the weekend crowd in all the tourist places of the state.

    According to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by Chief Secretary Sukhbir Singh Sandhu on Monday, the district administration has been given the responsibility to control the weekend crowd in all the tourist places of the state.

    The District Magistrate will also ensure that tourists in tourist places compulsorily follow the rules of physical distance, wearing masks and sanitizing hands. “If the situation worsens in the tourist places of Uttarakhand now, then the District Magistrate will be responsible. They have been authorized to take the decisions regarding the crowds on weekends,” the guidelines read.

    “According to the capacity of these tourist places for crowd control and the geographical conditions, what percentage of tourists can be allowed to move or visit or else the District Magistrate concerned will be free to decide whether to impose any restrictions,” it reads.

    The District Magistrate will also ensure strict action against those who violate the rules. As per the SOP, all persons coming from outside the state will be allowed entry only with a negative report of RTPCR, True Net, CBNET, or Rapid Antigen Test of a maximum period of 72 hours. “All these will also have to compulsorily register on the Smart City Portal. For migrants coming to the villages of Uttarakhand from other states will have to stay in quarantine for seven days,” the SOP reads.

    The old restrictions have been retained in the SOP issued by Chief Secretary Sukhbir Singh Sandhu. This comes amid concerns of COVID protocol violations at hill stations as state governments gradually lift lockdown restrictions.

    Holiday destinations in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have seen a huge influx of tourists over the last few days. Several videos have surfaced online of large gatherings where many have been spotted without masks and minimal social distancing.

    The Uttarakhand government has meanwhile extended the COVID curfew in the state till July 20. Restrictions will remain in force till 6 am on July 20. A cap of 50 people has also been imposed for weddings and funerals.

    As per the union health ministry, there are currently 932 active COVID-19 cases in Uttarakhand. As many as 3,32,957 recoveries and 7,341 deaths have been reported in the state so far. A total of 49,31,189 vaccine doses have been administered in the state, including 39,30,271 first doses and 10,00,918 second doses.

  • PM Narendra Modi congratulates Pushkar Singh Dhami on taking over as Uttarakhand CM

    By PTI
    DEHRADUN: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called Uttarakhand’s new chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to congratulate him on his appointment to the post. “Respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji today spoke to me telephonically to give his blessings and wish me all the best,” Dhami tweeted in Hindi.

    आपकी व्यक्तिगत रूप से दी गई बधाई मेरे लिए प्रेरणा-पुंज है। आपके मार्गदर्शन व नेतृत्व में मैं, मेरे सभी साथी और प्रदेश के कर्मठ कार्यकर्ता देवभूमि उत्तराखंड राज्य को विकास का अनुकरणीय उदाहरण बनाने के लिये दृढ़-संकल्पित हैं।आपका पुनः ह्रदय से आभार।
    — Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) July 5, 2021

    Thanking the prime minister, he said it will inspire him and his team to work hard and steer the state on the path of development. “A personal congratulation from you is a source of inspiration for me.Under your guidance and leadership, I, my colleagues and hard working party workers are committed to make Devbhoomi Uttarakhand an exemplary state in terms of development,” Dhami said.

    “I thank you again from the bottom of my heart,” the chief minister said.