Latest news with #CharDham
United News of India
6 hours ago
- United News of India
Kerala Police warn against fake Char Dham booking websites
Thiruvananthapurm, June 5 (UNI) Kerala Police urged devotees heading for Char Dham pilgrimage from the State to use authorised websites for the booking of helicopters. Some pilgrims from Kerala are being cheated by booking helicopter services through fake websites, it said. Uttarakhand Police has received information that devotees from Kerala have booked helicopter services through various websites in connection with the Char Dham Yatra that has begun in the state of Uttarakhand. About 6051 people have registered for the Char Dham Yatra from Kerala this time. People are advised to book through the authorised website: UNI DS ARN
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
136 fake portals offering Char Dham chopper service shut in last 5 months: Official
As many as 136 fake websites offering helicopter ride booking for Char Dham yatra were shut down in the last five months this year, police officials said. 117 mobile numbers, 35 WhatsApp numbers have also been blocked, while 61 bank accounts have been frozen in coordination with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Ministry of Home Affairs. In 2024, 18 such fake websites were shut, 45 Facebook pages were blocked, and 20 bank accounts were frozen while in 2023, 64 fake websites offering chopper service to Char Dham yatris were blocked. Also Read:Gangotri: Civic body collects over 2 tonne of clothes discarded by pilgrims in Ganga 'We are witnessing a shift in the tactics of cybercriminals,' said senior superintendent of police (STF) Navneet Singh Bhullar. 'Earlier, scammers operated through fake websites. Now, they are leveraging Facebook and Instagram pages, using ad boosts to promote fraudulent helicopter booking links and deceive users', Bhullar said. 'To address this threat, deputy inspector general (Law & Order), Dhirendra Gunjyal, has been appointed as the nodal officer for Meta under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act. Under his supervision, legal notices are being sent to Meta to remove misleading content and ads related to these fake helicopter bookings', he said. 'We are monitoring the cases on a daily basis. Notices are being issued to the concerned social media platforms through the nodal officer. We are also actively coordinating with the Ministry of Home Affairs, bank administrators, and telecom service providers for blocking fraudulent phone numbers', he added. According to police, the major reason for such cybercrime is that victims had no information about the authentic website for helicopter service booking. DSP Ankush Mishra of cyber cell said, 'They (fraudsters) are exploiting search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to make their fake websites appear at the top of search results when pilgrims search for booking sites. As a result, those who are unaware of the authentic Char Dham chopper booking websites fall into their trap, click on these links, and unknowingly enter their financial details to make payments. These fraudsters are operating from various parts of the country, including Bihar, Jharkhand, and Haryana,' he said. 'The only way to curb such cybercrime is spreading awareness among the public. The booking for the Char Dham chopper service should only be made through IRCTC's website Mishra said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta outlines vision for cleaner Delhi with focus on Yamuna
Haridwar: Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday said that within the first 100 days of her govt, a clear vision emerged, i.e., to transform the national capital into a clean, safe, and well-governed city. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "During this period, we resolved to make a fresh start for Delhi," she said. After taking a dip in the Ganga at Har-ki-Pauri along with her family, Gupta emphasised her govt's commitment to rejuvenating the Yamuna river. "Our aim is to make the Yamuna as clean and clear as the Ganga here in Devbhumi," she said. Later, she attended the inauguration of Sadhvi Ritambhara's new ashram, Ganga Vatsalya Ashraya, in Kankhal. The event was graced by several eminent seers and Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. During her address, Gupta congratulated 'Didi Ma' Ritambhara on receiving the Padma Bhushan. "Yesterday marked the completion of 100 days of our govt, and we participated in the Yamuna aarti. Today, I took a dip in the Ganga. I seek the blessings of the seers so that one day, we may take a similar dip in the Yamuna," she said. She added, "The river has dried up; there's either no water or it's heavily polluted. I've been entrusted with the responsibility to clean it, and my government is committed to that goal." In response, the seers proposed adopting Yamuna ghats to support the cleanup initiative. "We will ensure daily aartis at every ghat and beautify them," they said. Referring to CM Dhami as her senior, Gupta said that following in his footsteps, she would do all that he does in Uttarakhand. "I am taking Gangajal from here and the plan of Ganga cleaning, besides his blessings. He is the only CM to have introduced the Uniform Civil Code in the country," she added. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Reiterating her commitment to Delhi's welfare, Gupta described the city as the "heartbeat of the nation" and pledged to serve its people with dedication and excellence. Dhami, in turn, expressed confidence that Delhi's future would see a transformation. "I am hopeful that the Yamuna in Delhi will one day mirror the Ganga in Haridwar," he said. On the ongoing Char Dham yatra, Dhami reported that over 18 lakh pilgrims had already visited the sacred sites. "The govt is ensuring safe and smooth travel for all devotees this yatra season," he assured, adding firmly, "We are fully aware of the state's situation and will not allow its demographic composition to be altered."
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
73 casualties recorded during 1st monthof Char Dham yatra, most health-related
Dehradun: As many as 65 pilgrims undertaking the Char Dham yatra this year died due to health issues, mainly cardiac-related, while eight were killed in accidents on the route, according to state govt sources. Officials said that of the pilgrims who died due to heart-related and other complications, maximum were on the Kedarnath yatra (30) followed by Badrinath (15), Yamunotri (12) and Gangotri (8). Last year, 246 people had succumbed during the 6-month-long yatra due to a combination of health reasons as well as accidents. Health secretary of Uttarakhand, R Rajesh Kumar said, "A large number of pilgrims were brought dead to the health facilities. Still, this year, there are 10 fewer casualties as compared to the previous year in the corresponding duration." He added that "the screening of around 4.3 lakh pilgrims was conducted at health centres along with medical relief posts within the yatra's first month." "A robust health infrastructure is in place on the yatra route. This includes 69 medical officers, 121 staff nurses, 26 pharmacists, 309 oxygen-equipped beds, 6 ICU beds, 13 departmental ambulances, one blood bank and two blood storage units," Kumar said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo As per official data, pilgrims who died during the yatra mainly hailed from Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana. Also, most of the fatalities took place among comorbid people aged between 45 and 65 years. The pilgrims' health screening showed that around 17,800 people suffered comorbidities and were classified under the 'high-risk' pilgrims category. While 294 were referred to health facilities via ambulances, 3,900 pilgrims were counselled regarding red flags pertaining to their health and 29 were convinced to go back home and take up the yatra when in a better state of health. Twenty-six pilgrims were taken to the healthcare centre by heli service in the ongoing first month of the yatra. The four shrines are situated at elevations exceeding 10,000 feet in the Garhwal Himalayas, making the pilgrimage particularly challenging for individuals with underlying health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or ailments related to the kidneys, liver, respiratory system, or heart. The high altitude results in lower oxygen levels and extreme cold, often plunging below freezing, which poses serious risks to those with comorbidities. The annual yatra began with the opening of the Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines on April 30, followed by the ceremonial reopening of the Kedarnath and Badrinath temples on May 2 and May 4, respectively.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Char Dham heli scam: 51 fake websites, 111 numbers blocked
Dehradun: Amid ongoing efforts to curb the Char Dham heli-booking scam, the state cybercrime unit has blocked a total of 51 fake booking websites and 111 mobile numbers used in related fraudulent activities across the country. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The data, shared by the state cybercrime unit on Thursday, also revealed that 56 bank accounts linked to fraudulent transactions have been frozen. The action was taken with support from the ministry of home affairs' Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) portal. "We have also reported 30 WhatsApp numbers used to circulate fake heli-booking messages across the country," said DSP Ankush Mishra of the state cybercrime unit. Mishra added that last year, the police had approached Google to block certain keywords associated with the scam, which led to the removal of several fraudulent websites from search results. "In line with directions from DIG (law & order) Dhirendra Gunjyal, several legal notices were also served to Meta, requesting the removal of fake advertisements related to heli-booking services from its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. These efforts will continue in the coming days," he said. Mishra urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid falling for such scams. "We want to remind people that Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is the only authorised platform for booking Char Dham helicopter services for devotees," he said. Dehradun: Amid ongoing efforts to curb the Char Dham heli-booking scam, the state cybercrime unit has blocked a total of 51 fake booking websites and 111 mobile numbers used in related fraudulent activities across the country. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The data, shared by the state cybercrime unit on Thursday, also revealed that 56 bank accounts linked to fraudulent transactions have been frozen. The action was taken with support from the ministry of home affairs' Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) portal. "We have also reported 30 WhatsApp numbers used to circulate fake heli-booking messages across the country," said DSP Ankush Mishra of the state cybercrime unit. Mishra added that last year, the police had approached Google to block certain keywords associated with the scam, which led to the removal of several fraudulent websites from search results. "In line with directions from DIG (law & order) Dhirendra Gunjyal, several legal notices were also served to Meta, requesting the removal of fake advertisements related to heli-booking services from its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. These efforts will continue in the coming days," he said. Mishra urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid falling for such scams. "We want to remind people that Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is the only authorised platform for booking Char Dham helicopter services for devotees," he said.
