The annual Manimahesh Yatra got here to an finish on Sunday morning with greater than 3 lakh devotees enterprise the pilgrimage this yr.

The 15-day Yatra, which started on August 19 in Budhil valley of Bharmour subdivision in Chamba district, was held after a niche of two years because of the Covid pandemic.

Chamba deputy commissioner DC Rana mentioned about 2.5 lakh devotees took the holy dip within the sacred Maimahesh Lake from August 19 to September 3. More than 60,000 devotees undertook the pilgrimage earlier than the official begin of the Yatra.

The oval-shaped glacier-fed lake is located at 13,500 ft above imply sea degree on the foot of Manimahesh Kailash peak, believed to abode of Lord Shiva, in Pir Panjal Range of Himalayas.

Two non-public heli-taxi operators engaged by the administration ferried over 8,800 pilgrims.

He mentioned that 774 police personnel underneath the supervision of 4 gazetted officers have been deployed on the 14-km trek to take care of regulation and order and CCTV cameras have been put in from Bharmour to Hadsar, the bottom camp of the Yatra.

For the primary time, groups of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed to hold out rescue operations and meet an eventuality.

The yatra needed to be suspended for 2 days after landslides and flashfloods triggered by heavy rains on August 20. At least 10 devotees died throughout the pilgrimage as a result of well being causes and pure calamities.

Rana mentioned that each one attainable efforts have been made by the administration to offer higher amenities to the devotees.

For the primary time, registration was made necessary for the pilgrims and was achieved on-line in addition to offline.

“Various steps are being taken to make the Yatra safer in the coming years,” he mentioned, including that 55 momentary bogs and 102 water faucets have been put in alongside the trek in addition to well being camps at key factors the place 83 medical doctors and well being employees supplied well being providers to the devotees.

The DC expressed gratitude to the federal government officers, well being professionals, NDRF, SDRF, police, house guards, volunteers from the mountaineering sub-centre, native volunteers, NGOs and PRI representatives who rendered their service for the profitable conduct of the Yatra.

“All the facilities have been closed down from Sunday and devotees are now urged not to undertake Yatra anymore for their own safety,” he mentioned.

The yatra begins on the Janmashtmi competition, the birthday of Lord Krishna, and concludes on Radhashtmi.

The journey begins from Hadsar at a peak of 6,000 ft, and after passing by rugged, chilly and inhospitable terrain, and it concludes at 13,500 ft on the lake.