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Char Dham Yatra 2025 Witnesses 12% Dip in First Month: Weather Woes, Geo-Politics, and Messy Registration to Blame, Says SDC Foundation
Dehradun, June 2:
The Char Dham Yatra 2025 has opened on a slower note this season, with a significant 12% dip in the number of pilgrims in its first month compared to the same period last year. As per data compiled by Dehradun-based SDC Foundation, just over 17.17 lakh pilgrims visited the sacred shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri in the first 30 days this year. This is over 2.38 lakh less than the 19.56 lakh recorded in the first month of 2024.
Breaking it down, Kedarnath saw the steepest fall in footfall – a 13% drop – with 6.49 lakh pilgrims making the journey this year compared to 7.48 lakh last year. Gangotri followed with a 14% decline, from 3.39 lakh in 2024 to 2.93 lakh this year. Yamunotri’s numbers dropped by 11%, and even Badrinath, usually more accessible, saw a dip of 3%.
So what’s behind this downturn?
“It’s not just one reason,” said Anoop Nautiyal, founder of SDC Foundation. “There’s a mix of factors at play – from the impact of earlier Indo-Pak tensions, to unpredictable weather in the early days of the yatra, to persistent confusion and delays in the registration process.
All these have contributed to this year’s drop.”
Nautiyal stressed that the issues aren’t new, but they’re becoming harder to ignore.
“Pilgrims and travel organizers alike continue to face major hurdles with the registration system. It’s disorganized, chaotic, and often a turn-off for many planning their yatra.”
SDC Foundation, which has been consistently tracking the Char Dham Yatra using official data, had flagged many of these issues last year too. In its 2024 report titled ‘Pathways to Pilgrimage’, the group recommended crowd control measures, a cap on daily footfall based on carrying capacity, and significant improvements in health infrastructure and registration systems.
“The Char Dham Yatra isn’t just a religious journey – it’s also about ensuring safety, ecological balance, and a decent experience for pilgrims.
We’ve repeatedly submitted constructive suggestions based on data and patterns. But planning often starts too late,” Nautiyal added.
He also urged the state government to start planning for the 2026 yatra as soon as the portals close later this year.
“Delaying decisions until March or April is a mistake. If we’re serious about managing the yatra better, preparations must begin in October or November.”
As the 2025 yatra progresses, it remains to be seen whether the pilgrim count picks up pace.
But the early numbers and expert voices like SDC Foundation are already sending a clear message: the path to better pilgrimage lies in timely, data-driven, and sustainable planning.
Locked Out: Government Office in Tribal Bharmaur Dislodged Over 3-Year Unpaid Rent
Chamba, Himachal Pradesh – June 2, 2025
In a shocking example of administrative neglect, the Naib Tehsildar’s office in Dharwala, located in tribal Bharmaur of Chamba district, has been locked out by the building owner after three years of unpaid rent.
Despite repeated written reminders to the district administration and revenue officials, not a single rupee has been paid to the landlord since the office began operating from the premises.
Fed up with the apathy, the owner finally took matters into his own hands and sealed the government office, disrupting essential public services in the remote tribal region.
Naib Tehsildar Dharwala admitted the problem, saying, “When I enquired, I was told it happened due to lack of financial resources. We’ve been managing under severe constraints.”
Calling the situation unacceptable, BJP MLA Dr. Janak Raj, who represents Bharmaur, said, “I have instructed the Deputy Commissioner to take swift and immediate action to resolve the matter.
This is exactly the kind of ‘Vyavastha Parivartan’ I stand for—where basic systems are fixed and made accountable.”
For locals in this remote and underserved region, the incident is both frustrating and symbolic.
“If the state can’t even pay rent for its own office, what hope do we have for schools, roads, or healthcare?” said a resident standing outside the padlocked building.
As tribal Bharmaur waits for action, the sealed door stands as a stark reminder of how far good governance still needs to travel.
#TribalNeglect
#VyavasthaParivartan
#BharmaurBlocked
#AccountabilityNow
ED Attaches ₹2.34 Crore Worth Assets in Dehradun in “Emollient Coin” Crypto Scam
Dehradun/Srinagar, June 2:
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Srinagar, has provisionally attached assets worth ₹2.34 crore in connection with a bogus cryptocurrency scam linked to “Emollient Coin.” The action includes deposits in two bank accounts and immovable properties located in Ghati River Valley, Dehradun.
The scam was allegedly being run under the name M/s The Emollient Coin Limited, a UK-based company. Its Indian operations were spearheaded by Naresh Gulia, who is believed to be the promoter of the fraudulent scheme both in India and abroad.
ED’s probe revealed that unsuspecting investors were lured into the fake crypto scheme with promises of high returns, only to be duped of their money.
With Dehradun properties under the scanner, this latest crackdown by the ED sounds a loud alert for citizens of the valley to stay cautious of shady investment offers.
The attachment of assets is part of an ongoing investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and further leads are being pursued to unravel the full scale of the scam.
🔴 Dehradun citizens, be warned – the crypto crooks are in town, and ED’s red flag is real!
#CryptoScamAlert
#DehradunBeware
#EDCrackdown
#FakeCryptoBust
Stormy Signals Ahead, But Uneven Rainfall Still a Big Worry for Himachal..
SHIMLA: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast above-normal rainfall for Himachal Pradesh during the June to September 2025 monsoon season — a prediction that will likely keep the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) on its toes throughout the monsoon period.
After a turbulent pre-monsoon, this alert raises concerns of floods, flash floods, and landslides in vulnerable zones.
But the pre-monsoon numbers (March–May) reveal a grim and imbalanced picture. Himachal as a whole received 27% below-normal rainfall, ranking it 39th driest since 1901.
According to IMD data, Sirmaur (+75%) and Solan (+32%) received excess rainfall, while Kangra (-63%), Chamba (-46%), Una (-40%), Hamirpur (-37%), Bilaspur (-35%), and Shimla (-21%) saw significant deficits.
Tribal regions were worst hit: Kinnaur (-86%) and Lahaul-Spiti (-85%) suffered near-drought conditions, sparking fears for water supply and farming.
Even though May 2025 clocked a near-normal average (62.5 mm vs normal 63.3 mm), most of that rain came in short, intense bursts.
Hailstorms battered fruit crops across the apple belt, while some areas were inundated and others remained parched.
But There is no compensation for Farmers from the government for loss from hailstorms.
The skewed rainfall pattern, coupled with climate uncertainty, demands localized weather alerts, stronger infrastructure, and crop loss mitigation strategies.
An active monsoon may be on the way, but unless rain falls evenly across districts, disaster won’t be avoided—just redistributed.
What Should Tourists and Hoteliers Do?
With the IMD warning of an active monsoon, tourists must stay updated with daily weather alerts, avoid trekking during heavy rain periods, and avoid landslide-prone areas, especially in Kullu, Shimla, Chamba, and Lahaul-Spiti.
Hoteliers and homestay operators must proactively inform guests about weather risks, stock up on emergency supplies, and prepare evacuation protocols where needed.
Local tourism bodies should coordinate closely with the SDMA for real-time alerts and disaster readiness drills.
The key challenge isn’t just more rain, but where and how it falls. Uneven patterns could flood some valleys while leaving others dry.
The takeaway: the danger this year may not be less water — but too much, too fast, in the wrong places.
#HimachalWeather #Monsoon2025 #TouristAdvisory #DisasterPreparedness
Himachal to See Light Rain, Thunderstorms Over Next 7 Days; Temp Dip Likely in Mid Hills
Shimla, June 1:
If you're in Himachal Pradesh, don’t forget your umbrella this week! The state is in for a mixed bag of weather over the next seven days, with light rain and thunderstorms expected in many parts—especially the middle and higher hills—due to a fresh western disturbance and other active weather systems.
According to the Meteorological Centre in Shimla, the next few days could bring light to moderate rain, along with thunder and lightning, in several districts including Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Chamba, Kangra, and parts of Lahaul-Spiti. The western disturbance, now active over North Pakistan and adjoining Jammu & Kashmir, is expected to interact with local weather systems, pulling in moisture from the plains.
As per the seven-day forecast (June 1–7), light rainfall activity will be scattered across the region, especially in the afternoons and evenings.
The department has also issued yellow alerts for thunderstorms and lightning on a few days.
While the plains like Una and Bilaspur will continue to reel under temperatures nearing 39°C, the middle hills are likely to get some respite. Places like Shimla, Manali, and Dalhousie could see a slight dip in both daytime and nighttime temperatures.
On Saturday, Keylong was the coldest at 5.2°C, while Una recorded the hottest at 38.8°C. Shimla saw a minimum of 13.4°C and a maximum of 26.1°C.
The Met office advises farmers and tourists to stay updated and exercise caution, especially during afternoon thunderstorms. Lightning activity and gusty winds could also affect outdoor plans.
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