'Ensure better facilities enroute Chardham Yatra'

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on Tuesday expressed discontent over the arrangements made for the ongoing Chardham Yatra, and directed officials to ensure better basic amenities along the routes. He expressed displeasure on the lack of drinking water tanks and shades for protection from rain on the trek leading to Yamunotri shrine. During a review meeting, Nishank said since the pilgrimage comprising the four Himalayan shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri attract lakhs of pilgrims from home and abroad, the yatra arrangements should be upto the mark, said an official release. Saying that there is no dearth of funds, Nishank asked the officials to verify the arrangements by visiting the routes rather than reviewing their status sitting in their offices.

He also expressed his displeasure over non-availability of sufficient doctors on yatra routes. He directed the Secretary, Health to make Oxygen cylinders available in sufficient numbers and also arrange for imparting training to the concerned persons for their usage.