Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has linked the state’s campaign against substance abuse with the rising number of pilgrims visiting the Char Dham shrines this year.

Speaking in Dehradun, Dhami said several voluntary organisations had organised a run in support of the goal of making Uttarakhand a “drug-free state”. He said the campaign focuses on public awareness, action against drug peddlers and efforts to protect young people from addiction.

Dhami said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had identified the need to rescue youth from the grip of drug addiction after assuming office. Uttarakhand has pledged to pursue that objective through campaigns against substance abuse and stricter action against those involved in selling drugs.

60 lakh pilgrims reported this year

Turning to the Char Dham Yatra, Dhami said pilgrims from across the country had continued to arrive during both the first phase and the phase following the monsoon. He said 60 lakh pilgrims have undertaken the pilgrso far this year.

According to the chief minister, the figure has surpassed all previous records, with the yatra still continuing. He described the achievement as a new milestone for Uttarakhand’s pilgrseason.

Dhami also said pilgrnumbers had increased substantially since Prime Minister Modi visited Baba Kedarnath. He said the number of visitors had fallen significantly after the disaster but later recorded a substantial rise.

The statement did not provide a separate figure for the decline after the disaster or identify the specific dates covered by the pilgrtotals. The available figures therefore establish the reported 60 lakh total and the claim that earlier records have been exceeded.

Badrinath plan and Kumbh preparations

Dhami said preparations were underway for the upcoming Kumbh Mela. He also said a master plan for Badrinath Dham was being developed and that work on it was progressing rapidly.

The chief minister said continuous efforts were being made to improve facilities for pilgrims. He acknowledged that the pilgrremains challenging, while highlighting the need to strengthen the services available to visitors.

The remarks place the drug-prevention campaign and pilgrmanagement among the state’s current public priorities. The immediate next steps mentioned were continued work on the drug-free mission, preparations for the Kumbh Mela and progress on the Badrinath Dham master plan.

Conclusion

Dhami said Uttarakhand is pursuing a drug-free state campaign while managing a record-setting Char Dham Yatra, preparing for the Kumbh Mela and advancing the Badrinath Dham master plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What did Pushkar Singh Dhami say about Uttarakhand’s drug-free mission?

Dhami said Uttarakhand had pledged to become a “drug-free state” and was pursuing the mission through awareness campaigns and action against drug peddlers.

Q. What event was organised in Dehradun?

Several voluntary organisations organised a run in support of a drug-free Uttarakhand.

Q. How many pilgrims have undertaken the Char Dham Yatra this year?

Dhami said 60 lakh pilgrims have undertaken the yatra so far this year.

Q. Has the Char Dham Yatra figure crossed earlier records?

Yes. Dhami said the number had surpassed all previous records, with the pilgrstill ongoing.

Q. What did Dhami say about Badrinath Dham?

He said a master plan for Badrinath Dham was being developed and work on it was progressing rapidly.

Q. What preparations are underway in Uttarakhand?

Dhami said preparations were underway for the upcoming Kumbh Mela, alongside efforts to improve pilgrim facilities.