Roughly 4300 horse and mule operators will be among those catering to the pilgrims who will start making the Char Dham Yatra from Wednesday with the opening up of the Gangotri and Yamunotri.
To go to the Kedarnath Dham, pilgrims have to cover a distance of about 18 km from Gaurikund. Many prefer to ride on horses and mules. This time, 2493 operators have registered more than 5,000 horses and mules for the route.
The Animal Husbandry Department has also issued fitness certificates of horses and mules on the basis of extensive health tests. Veterinary hospitals are operational in Sonprayag, Gaurikund, Lichauli and Kedarnath. Five vets and seven paravets have also been appointed along the route. Arrangements for hot water have also been made at 13 places on the walking route.
For Yamunotri, where the walking distance is slightly more than five kilometres, more than 3,700 horses and mules have been registered. A temporary veterinary hospital has also been set up at Jankichatti for the examination, vaccination, medical assistance and treatment of the animals. Four veterinary doctors along with four livestock extension officers and two livestock assistants have been deployed here. A total of six geysers have been installed on the Yatra route.
Five pre-paid booking counters have been set up for Kedarnath at Sonprayag, Gaurikund, Bhimbali, Lichauli and Rudra Point. Similarly, a prepaid counter has been set up by the District Panchayat in Jankichatti for Yamunotri. Jackets with numbers are being provided to the horse-mule operators for Yamunotri, and only one travel per day will be allowed to the Dham to ensure the safety and health of the animals.
Horses and mules will be examined before undertaking the Yatra and will also be checked en route.
Uttarakhand Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has stated that only ‘completely fit’ horses and mules would be certified for undertaking the Yatra.
