May 27th 2024.
There has been some distressing news coming out of Uttarakhand recently, as it has been reported that 58 pilgrims have lost their lives during the Char Dham Yatra over the course of the past 16 days. According to sources within the government, the average number of daily deaths during this pilgrimage is three. It's a somber reminder that even in the midst of religious fervor, there can be negative consequences that we must face.
Sadly, these deaths are not isolated incidents. In the past, there have been other tragic events that have occurred during religious gatherings, such as the Navaratri stampede in Madhya Pradesh in 2013 which claimed the lives of 115 people and injured 110, as well as the Morbi bridge collapse during Diwali in Gujarat in 2022 which resulted in the deaths of 141 people and injured many others. In 2017, six pilgrims lost their lives in a stampede at a fair in Gangasagar, and on January 1st, 2022, 12 people were killed and many more were injured in a stampede at the Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu and Kashmir. These are just a few examples, as there have been numerous other incidents where large numbers of people have lost their lives or sustained serious injuries.
The Char Dham Yatra, along with a few other pilgrimages throughout the country, is sponsored and managed by the government in an effort to encourage religious devotion among its citizens. As reported by news outlets, the Uttarakhand state government has stated that an average of three pilgrims have died each day during this year's Char Dham Yatra. It is undoubtedly a noble effort on the part of these individuals to embark on such a challenging journey in order to purify their souls and rid themselves of any past sins. For those who have such a strong desire, the government requires them to register and provide a health certificate to prove that they are physically capable of completing the pilgrimage.
Unfortunately, there have been cases where pilgrims have been found to have forged their health certificates in order to participate in the journey. It's important to remember that these individuals are going through all of this trouble to cleanse themselves of their past wrongdoings. And yet, some of them are knowingly providing false information about their health in order to be approved for the pilgrimage. This raises doubts about their true devotion to their religion. According to data, 300 people died during the Char Dham Yatra in 2022, and 250 people lost their lives in 2023. These numbers are alarming and should serve as a warning to the government that they may be held responsible for these tragic deaths.
Therefore, it may be necessary for the government to reconsider their involvement in these types of pilgrimages, including the Char Dham Yatra which includes stops at Jamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Originally known as the Chota Char Dham Yatra, it was expanded after the 1962 China war when the government began sponsoring it. This pilgrimage is seen as a beacon for other similar journeys. Given this information, the government has two options: they can either stop approving these dangerous journeys altogether, or if religious beliefs are too strong, they can withdraw from any involvement in religious pilgrimages such as the Chota Char Dham Yatra or even the Haj pilgrimage. The safety and well-being of individuals should always be the top priority.
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