25 April,2026 06:35 PM IST | Dehradun | mid-day online correspondent
The helicopter shuttle service provides an aerial link for pilgrims from base camps to the Himalayan shrine. Pic/ PTI
All 31,450 seats for the Kedarnath helicopter shuttle service, scheduled between April 22 and June 15, were sold out within 90 minutes of the booking portal opening, officials said on Saturday, reported PTI.
According to officials, the booking process commenced at 6 pm on April 15, with the final ticket issued by 7:28 pm. A total of 10,855 tickets were successfully generated through the official IRCTC portal during this period.
The helicopter shuttle service provides an aerial link for pilgrims from base camps to the Himalayan shrine. These services operate from Guptkashi, Phata, and Sirsi, reducing the arduous 16-km trek.
According to PTI, the Uttarakhand Tourism Department's helpline call centre conducted 565 random verification calls to monitor the process. Officials found that 4,400 mobile numbers matched actual passengers out of 10,859 numbers used.
Analysis showed that 51 per cent of bookings were made directly by pilgrims, while the remaining 49 per cent were processed through other authorised channels, officials said.
Peak activity occurred between 6:10 pm and 6:32 pm. At 6:10 pm, the system recorded 849 bookings, followed by a sharp increase over the next 20 minutes.
Maharashtra led the state-wise booking charts with 1,708 successful transactions. Other major bookings came from Uttar Pradesh (1,243), Delhi (867), Telangana (864), Karnataka (801), and Gujarat (700).
To maintain transparency, the state government limited each user to two bookings and 12 seats. A single IP address was restricted to five user IDs, with each booking capped at six passengers, the news agency reported.
Official records show that 913 seats across 510 booking IDs have been cancelled so far. Officials said the streamlined process ensures a safe and reliable journey for all pilgrims.
Concerns over crowd management and security arrangements have emerged from the ongoing Kedarnath Yatra in Uttarakhand, with several devotees taking to social media to highlight alleged lapses at the pilgrimage site.
Many pilgrims have reported long waiting hours, overcrowding, and inadequate facilities at Kedarnath Temple, with some even advising others to postpone their visit due to the surge in footfall.
Devotees have alleged instances of misbehaviour by police personnel and insufficient on-ground management. The situation is said to be particularly challenging given the temple's high-altitude location and harsh weather conditions.
(With PTI inputs)
