According to the Times of India, the Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand had 7.3 lakh visitors in the first 45 days of 2019, breaking all records for the highest footfall since the turn of the year.
While around 7.32 lakh people visited the shrine during the six-month long yatra in 2018, the number touched 7.35 in the first 45 days of 2019.
36,179 pilgrims offered prayers on June 7 followed by 36,021 more on June 10.
The authorities have credited PM Modi for the high turnout, claiming people ardently follow what the prime minister does in his daily life.
BL Rana, general manager, Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam, believed the same and told Times of India:
Kedarnath is very close to the Prime Minister’s heart and he closely monitors all development works in the area. The demand for the meditation cave has also increased among the people after PM’s visit.
After the disastrous calamity in 2013, only 3.33 lakh people visited Kedarnath but the number increased gradually, and in 2017, 4.71 lakh pilgrims made the journey to offer prayers.