Uttarakhand: Parking Staffers Attack Kedarnath Pilgrims With Stick In Sitapur; 5 Held After Video Surfaces

Sonprayag: A clash erupted during the Kedarnath yatra in Uttarakhand's Sonprayag district on Thursday. According to reports, pilgrims were allegedly assaulted by staffers of a parking area. The incident was captured on camera and its video surfaced online.

The pilgrims were allegedly beaten up with sticks by the staff members of the Sitapur parking area at around 11 am on Thursday. The incident sparked public outrage.

The altercation broke out between pilgrims and the parking staff and soon it escalated into a physical brawl, reported The Times of India.

Video Of The Incident:

Taking cognizance of the incident, the Sonprayag police launched an investigation into the matter. It is confirmed by cops that the alleged assault took place at the Sitapur parking area.

A police team has been rushed to the area, reported TOI. The police also identified the people assaulting pilgrims. All five people seen assaulting devotees were reportedly identified as employees of the parking facility.

As per the report, the police detained the parking lot contractors and the accused for questioning. After the initial probe, all five accused were arrested.

A detailed investigation has been launched into the matter.

On May 2, the portals of Shri Kedarnath Dham were opened for devotees. Notably, Kedarnath Dham has witnessed unprecedented crowds, with more than 650,000 visitors arriving in just 30 days following the opening of doors.

For the unversed, the Char Dham Yatra -- one of the most significant Hindu pilgrimages -- includes visits to four sacred Himalayan shrines: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.

Published on: Friday, June 20, 2025, 04:14 PM IST