Statewide mock drill held to boost Char Dham Yatra readiness
National Disaster Management Authority
(NDMA) and the
Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority
(USDMA) on Thursday. The exercise was carried out at the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) and across all seven districts involved in the annual pilgrimage.
The drill covered the core Char Dham districts — Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Rudraprayag — along with key transit districts, including Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri and Tehri. It tested the ground-level readiness of various departments operating under the Incident Response System (IRS).
Vinod Kumar Suman, secretary of the state disaster management department, emphasised that the exercise, conducted in close coordination with the NDMA, was meant to assess
emergency response capabilities
and inter-departmental collaboration. "We achieved significant success in coordination, and where shortcomings were identified, relevant departments were directed to address them before the yatra begins," he said.
The operations were led by NDMA principal advisor Major General Sudhir Bahl (retd), who issued a series of recommendations during the post-drill debriefing. He advised integrating police and tourism control rooms with the SEOC for broader monitoring. He also called for the widespread promotion of the Char Dham Yatra mobile app to deliver timely weather alerts, traffic updates, landslide warnings and alternate route guidance.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
News For Jack Nicholson, 87, He Has Been Confirmed To Be...
Reportingly
Undo
Key suggestions included installing mandatory signage in danger zones, conducting fire safety audits for hotels and lodges, deploying earth-moving equipment near landslide-prone areas and setting up communication systems in no-network zones. He also recommended enhanced health facilities for helicopter pilgrims vulnerable to high-altitude sickness, and the establishment of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for helipad safety.
The NDMA also praised the efforts in Badrinath, particularly the crowd management measures implemented by Chamoli district magistrate Sandeep Tiwari. These included improved matting, reinforced railings, benches for elderly pilgrims and additional toilet facilities.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Thailand bets on crypto conversions to reignite tourism
Thailand is set to roll out an ambitious pilot project that will allow foreign visitors to convert cryptocurrencies into Thai baht for local spending, an initiative the government hopes will help revive the country's struggling tourism sector. It will be launching an 18-month pilot programme for this, as Reuters reported. Unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, the TouristDigiPay sandbox programme will run for 18 months, starting later this year. The scheme will enable tourists to exchange their digital assets through Thai-based cryptocurrency platforms, with the converted funds stored in online wallet applications for use across the country. Under the programme, visitors will be allowed to convert up to 550,000 baht ($16,949) during their stay. Officials emphasised that the limit was set both to test the system and to prevent potential misuse, including money laundering. Read more: 5 national parks bigger than countries like Spain, Switzerland, or Germany Finance Ministry permanent secretary Lavaron Sangsnit noted that the cap could be reassessed once the pilot concludes. Bangkok Post reported that for merchants, strict thresholds have also been introduced. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Vendors that complete a 'Know Your Merchant' (KYM) verification process can accept up to 500,000 baht per month, while smaller operators are restricted to 50,000 baht. Crypto as a tourism booster Thailand, Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, is banking on the initiative to shore up a key industry that has yet to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The state planning agency this week revised its 2025 forecast for foreign tourist arrivals down by 10 per cent, projecting 33 million visitors, well below the pre-pandemic record of 39.9 million in 2019. That year, tourism generated 1.91 trillion baht ($58.86 billion), highlighting just how vital the sector is to the Thai economy. Officials believe the TouristDigiPay scheme could stimulate additional tourist spending by as much as 10 per cent, potentially injecting more than 175 billion baht into the economy. Importantly, the government has been keen to clarify that Thailand is not adopting cryptocurrencies as a means of direct payment. Instead, the scheme focuses on facilitating smooth conversion into baht. Read more: 10 vegetarian-friendly countries that should be on your travel wishlist That distinction is crucial. While several countries have experimented with integrating cryptocurrencies into local commerce, Thailand's approach positions baht as the sole medium of exchange, ensuring the stability of its financial system while still tapping into the growing pool of crypto-savvy travellers. Thailand has long been one of the world's top tourist destinations, attracting millions with its beaches, temples, food, and nightlife. But with global travel patterns shifting and competition heating up from neighbours like Vietnam and Indonesia, the kingdom is seeking new ways to differentiate itself. The TouristDigiPay sandbox could be just that. If successful, it may set a precedent for other countries looking to blend tourism promotion with digital finance innovation. For now, all eyes will be on how visitors respond when the project goes live. Will the convenience of crypto-to-baht conversions persuade travellers to spend more freely in Thailand? And could it mark the beginning of a new financial model for tourism in the digital age? Keep reading this space for more updates on this.
Deccan Herald
5 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
The Char Dham warning: Climate resilience must begin with the locals
The recent devastating visuals from the Dharali and Harshil valleys call for an immediate impact assessment and urgent investment in climate-resilient infrastructure. As one of the first pilgrims to embark on the Char Dham Yatra this year, I share a few ground realities that seem to have been taken for granted. .In the early days of the yatra, the Uttarakhand government introduced a token system to register every visitor. Irrespective of who was organising the tour, each individual had to register using their Aadhar number, providing full itinerary details as well as the mode of transport. This ensured that toll-like booths were set up well before entry points to each dham, where tokens could be conveniently scanned. It was an effective mechanism for crowd management while also generating valuable big data about tourist as the weeks passed, the system appears not to have been taken seriously, owing to a range of factors. In the initial weeks of the yatra -- when locals and domestic tourists constituted about 40 per cent of the total pilgrims and visitors making the journey between April 30 and October 23 – the state government was compelled to mobilise resources. Young college students were deployed to man registration booths, and extra police personnel were brought from distant regions. On our own journey, we often gave travellers a ride, including police personnel posted temporarily in the Char Dham circuit. We also helped locals transit short distances, as they held in their handwoven baskets their household or village deities. I still recall the young woman, Hema, who sat quietly by the Anand Bhairav temple in Bhairo Ghat. .Gangotri stands at a higher elevation compared to the other dhams. The second dham (moving clockwise and from west to east), as part of the Char Dham Yatra, greets you with her white, sparkling, bubbling energy. Scientists studying how glaciers and geology affect land masses, the flow of rivers and migratory patterns have long provided data about the receding glaciers here. .Harshil, often called the Switzerland of the region, basks in the glory of the majestic ranges and the River Bhagirathi flowing through the town. It is one of the last towns before the Chinese border. Geographically, this region holds importance as the birthplace of the mighty Ganga that feeds and nourishes the plains below and for the defence infrastructure installations due to the proximity to the China border. .The growth of the Char Dham circuit has grown in leaps and bounds over the years. In 2007, I remember my journey vividly to the Valley of Flowers, Hemkund, and Badrinath. Going back after 18 years felt like driving into the Himalayas without the bumpy pothole-ridden roads, with better buses and a number of food options to choose from along the route. I couldn't help but compare this to the roads leading up to Mt Cook in the Southern Island of New Zealand and Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado (similar altitude of 13,000 feet) – accessible, motorable, yet the sheer numbers of buses and people are puts significant pressure on the local economies; hence, when a climate extreme event strikes, it is the locals that are most impacted. The night that we halted in Gangotri, we received an alert from the NDMA: 'Heavy rainfall in the Uttarkashi region. Please follow all precautions and stay alert.' Of course, the locals shrugged it off, saying this was the season for rains, yet we braced up for the unforeseen future, informing family back home, charging mobiles in case of power outages and stocking up on food and water. That morning, the weather seemed fine, and as we rode back towards Uttarkashi, we were stopped by a friendly police person at Bhairo Ghat to request a ride for a young lady who stayed at Dharali en route. We opened the door of the vehicle to let Hema in, and she smiled at us. We waved back enthusiastically to Hema as she alighted to head to her village, keeping her basket close to her under her woollen shawl. We hope her gods have kept her safe. .Local knowledge systems, their beliefs and their acumen about climate extremities must be used to act as catalysts for preparedness in such situations. Corporates and governments invest in building adaptation mechanisms, yet climate resilience calls for working with local communities in helping shift the power to make them equally responsible to advocate for issues that could inevitably come in the way of coping with climate extremities. Rampant real estate development, for example, very close to the course of the river, should be strictly banned on all accounts. Heavy fines should be levied, and locals should have a say should outside-the-state entities or large conglomerates like hospitality chains choose to develop large-scale properties in the region. The Himalayas are young, moving mountain chains; the rivers that originate from here constantly change the course of their direction, yet humans claim to be permanent beings in this grand scheme of things by building concrete structures that will crumble like a pack of cards when nature's fury is unravelled. .(The writer is a climate communication speaker and course director while serving as an expert committee advisor on building climate curriculums in a range of educational institutes)
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Indian Railways to run 392 special train trips for Ganesh Chaturthi
The Indian Railways on Wednesday announced that it will operate 392 special train trips during Ganesh Chaturthi to facilitate passenger travel and ease congestion during the festival. The service will run from August 21 to September 10, the Railways said in a post on X, "For the convenience of passengers during Ganesh Chaturthi, Indian Railways has announced 392 train trips." For the convenience of passengers during Ganesh Chaturthi, Indian Railways has announced 392 train trips. - Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) August 20, 2025 by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Outdoor Clothing | Designed to Perform. Built to Endure. Trek Kit India Shop Now Undo This year, Ganesh Chaturthi begins on August 27 and will culminate on Anantha Chaturdashi . Also known as Vinayak Chaturthi or Vinayak Chavithi, the festival marks the worship of Lord Ganesha as the god of new beginnings and remover of obstacles. Devotees across India and abroad celebrate his wisdom and intelligence with decorated homes and pandals, prayers, music, and vibrant processions. Earlier in July, the Maharashtra government declared the public Ganeshotsav as the " Maharashtra State Festival ." The announcement was made in the Legislative Assembly by Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar, who said the tradition of public Ganeshotsav was started in Maharashtra in 1893 by Lokmanya Tilak. Live Events "This festival is deeply rooted in social, national, freedom, self-respect, and linguistic pride. It continues in the same spirit today. It is a matter of pride and honour for Maharashtra," Shelar had told the Assembly. He emphasised that the Government of Maharashtra is committed to preserving and promoting the cultural significance and global presence of this festival. Shelar also highlighted that certain individuals, for various reasons, have attempted to challenge the traditional public celebration of Ganeshotsav in different courts. However, the Mahayuti government--under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Dada Pawar--has acted swiftly to overcome all such restrictions and legal hurdles.
