Kedarnath, Badrinath's door to be opened tomorrow

Dehra Dun, May 8 (UNI) The doors of the Kedarnath and Badrinath yatras will be officially opened for pilgrims tomorrow.

They would be opened two days after the Yamunotri and Gangotri dhams were opened yesterday.

Bardrinath, situated on the left bank of the river Alaknanda, is considered the holiest of the four sacred shines in Garhwal and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

The Kedarnath is one of the twelve 'Jyotirlingas' of Lord Shiva and is situated in the Uttar Kashi district of the northern state of Uttarakhand.

An estimated 2.21 crore pilgrims are undertaking the sacred pilgrimage this year.

With a view to ensure the safety of pilgrims, authorities have extended the 'char dham yatra' by 10 days, making it compulsory for a pilgrim to complete his visit to three shrines at least in eight days, two shrines in six days and one shrine in four days.

Chief Minister B C Khanduri also held review meetings with the state's tourism officials to ensure that the facilities such as clean water and electricity were at the disposal of pilgrims.

A round-the-clock yatra cell is one of the new features this year besides mobile trauma centres and ten mobile ambulances, which would be operational from May 15.

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