Rishikesh – Heavy rush at the Chardham Yatra registration counters and roadways ticket counters at ISBT Rishikesh led to chaos on the premises, with reports of scuffles, overcrowding and a woman pilgrim fainting amid the crowd. Long queues of pilgrims were seen at the Chardham Yatra transit camp for registration. Due to inadequate arrangements, pushing and jostling broke out among passengers waiting in line, creating panic-like conditions.
Several pilgrims alleged that they had been standing in queues from midnight till afternoon, but their registration could still not be completed. Around 1 pm, a fight broke out among pilgrims outside registration counter number one at the transit camp. Police personnel and paramilitary forces deployed at the spot intervened and brought the situation under control.
The increasing number of pilgrims arriving daily has further worsened crowd management in Rishikesh. Divyang pilgrims also faced difficulties due to the absence of a separate registration arrangement. Many of them, along with their family members, were reportedly moving from one official to another seeking assistance. Officials stopped registrations around 2 pm after available slots were filled, leaving many pilgrims stranded even after waiting for several days.
Heavy crowds were also reported at the ISBT registration counter and roadways ticket counters. During a scuffle at the roadways counter, the glass window and protective grill broke after passengers pushed each other while trying to buy tickets for Sonprayag and Badrinath-bound buses. Roadways employees temporarily stopped ticket distribution and called the police to restore order. Ticketing resumed only after police personnel reached the spot. Eyewitnesses said the grill outside the registration counter at ISBT also collapsed under pressure from the crowd.
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Although additional police forces and PAC personnel have been deployed from other districts for the Chardham Yatra, pilgrims alleged that police presence near the registration and ticket counters remained inadequate during peak crowd hours.
