Dhami: Uttarakhand rebuilding religious sites after 2013 disaster

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Saturday that the state government is transforming religious sites across Uttarakhand, including Kedarnath and Badrinath, which were severely damaged in the 2013 disaster. Speaking at the 51st Nirvana Diwas in Haridwar, Dhami credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for rebuilding a 'magnificent and divine' Kedarnath. He said initiatives like the Mandir Mala Mission are reviving temples in the Kedarkhand and Manaskhand regions.

The Times of India reports Dhami also outlined plans to establish Uttarakhand as the world's 'spiritual capital' with projects such as the Kedarkhand-Mansakhand Temple Mala Mission and the Haridwar-Rishikesh Corridor. In a separate event on Wednesday, Dhami joined the Tapkeshwar Mahadev Shobha Yatra in Dehradun. He told reporters the Char Dham Yatra's second phase begins in September and the state is preparing for the 2027 Kumbh Mela in Haridwar.

Dhami also announced the establishment of a dedicated Agniveer Cell to provide employment to returning Agniveers. He noted that one in five Indian soldiers comes from Uttarakhand and said the cabinet has approved the cell to help Agniveers use their military training in civilian jobs.