Rishikesh: The Uttarakhand government has banned the registration for Kedarnath Yatra until May 3, citing rising COVID-19 cases in the state. The decision was taken in a meeting of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Center on April 29.

According to officials, the registration for Kedarnath Yatra was being allowed until April 29, but has now been postponed until May 3. The move is aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus, which has been on the rise in the state in recent weeks.

However, the registration for Badrinath and Gangotri yatras is still being allowed, with strict COVID-19 protocols in place. Pilgrims are required to produce a negative RT-PCR test report obtained within 72 hours of their arrival in the state, and must also undergo thermal screening and other health checks at the time of registration.

The Uttarakhand government has also announced a range of measures to ensure the safety of pilgrims during the yatra season. These include increased testing, contact tracing, and quarantine measures, as well as strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols such as wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.

The Kedarnath Yatra is one of the most popular pilgrimage routes in India, attracting millions of devotees every year. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the yatra season, with many states imposing restrictions on travel and gatherings to curb the spread of the virus.

The Uttarakhand government has urged all pilgrims to follow the guidelines and protocols put in place for the yatras, and has promised to take strict action against those found violating them.