Distressing news has come from Uttarakhand that 58 pilgrims have died in the last 16 days while on the Char Dham Yatra. Government sources have put daily 3 deaths on an average. The religious fervor spreading across India seems to have had its negative impact even though the religious minded are unwilling to accept these stark realities. The deaths are not isolated nor are they a rare occurrence. Take for instance the Madhya Pradesh Navaratri stampede in Ratangarh in 2013 which took the lives of 115 people and injured 110 and the Morbi bridge collapse during Diwali in Gujarat in October 2022 which killed 141 people and injured dozens. In a stampede at a fair in Gangasagar, six pilgrims died in a stampede in 2017. In another stampede at the Vaishno Devi temple in J&K, 12 people lost their lives and many others were injured on 1st January 2022. These few instances are but samples and there are numerous other incidents where large number of people have lost their lives and many have had near fatal injuries.
The Char Dham Yatra, like a few others across the country, is government sponsored and managed to infuse more religiousity amongst the citizens. According to Uttarakhand state government, as published in news reports, nearly three pilgrims have died per day during this current season of the Char Dham Yatra. It is undoubtedly a noble effort on the part of the people to take this ardous journey to liberate their souls by getting absolved of all sins committed during their lifetime. For people with such a high aspiration, the government seeks registration and a health certificate to distinguish who is physically fit to endure this pilgrimage.
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Unfortunately, many pilgrims have been observed to be forging their health certificates which are a pre-requsite for availing this difficult journey. We have to keep in mind that they take all this trouble to get rid of their past sins. And yet many knowingly lie about their health condition on record. This disproves their keenness about the religion that they profess. Data shows that in 2022 in this same Char Dham Yatra, 300 people had died while 250 people had lost their lives in 2023. This means these huge number of deaths should ring a warning bell for the government that can, under present circumstances, be held responsible for those lives lost.
Therefore, the Char Dham Yatra consisting of Jamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath and similar pilgrimages should not involve the government machinery at any stage. Originally known as Chota Char Dham Yatra, which became bigger due to government sponsorship after 1962 China war, is a torch bearer of such pilgrimages. Seen in this background, the government has two options. First is to altogether stop approving such perilous journeys. Second, applicable only if religion overpowers, should be a complete withdrawal of government intervention in any religion linked journeys such as this Chota Char Dham Yatra or even Haj pilgrimage.
