Rudraprayag: The sacred journey of Chardham Yatra turned into a nightmare for three devotees from Andhra Pradesh after they were allegedly cheated by their travel agent over helicopter tickets.
The pilgrims, hailing from Srikakulam, found themselves stranded in Uttarakhand, despite having already paid for their tickets.
No tickets were provided after the booking
The complainant, Penta Ratnakar, a resident of Kasibugga Palasa, approached the Guptkashi police station on Monday, reporting that his group had booked their Chardham Yatra through a travel agency. As part of their package, they also paid Rs 15,000 per person for helicopter tickets to Kedarnath Dham. However, upon reaching Guptkashi from Gangotri, they were suddenly asked to pay an additional Rs 30,000 per person for the same tickets.
“Despite transferring the extra money to different accounts, when we got ready to leave for Kedarnath on Monday morning, no tickets were provided,” Ratnakar said.
Police registered a case
Following the complaint, police registered a case under Section 318(4) and 61 of the Indian Penal Code at Guptkashi police station. The accused include Manish Kumar from Paharganj, Delhi, Potnoru Ramarao from Paralakemundi, Odisha, and Ashish from Karol Bagh, Delhi, the owner of Sahara Tour and Travels.
Similar case with Karnataka pilgrim
A similar fraud case was reported last week involving a businessman from Karnataka who lost over Rs 12 lakh while trying to arrange travel logistics for 17 people undertaking the Char Dham Yatra. The jeweler, excited about the pilgrimage, began searching online for helicopter services and lodging arrangements. Finding an appealing offer, he contacted a travel agent who provided different packages, including a Rs 75,000 per person fee for helicopter services and hotel accommodations.
Believing it to be genuine, he transferred Rs 12 lakh for his group of 17 people. However, upon arriving in Dehradun on May 4, he realized he had been deceived. The contact number of the agent was no longer responsive.
A growing concern
As Uttarakhand welcomes lakhs of devotees for the Char Dham Yatra, cases of fraud and mismanagement threaten to dampen the spiritual experience. Police have urged travelers to remain cautious and ensure their bookings are verified through official sources.
With cases of scams increasing, authorities have intensified their efforts to track fraudulent operators. Officials advise pilgrims to cross-check their travel arrangements before making payments to prevent falling victim to such frauds.
Warning for pilgrims: Book through official channels
Authorities have urged devotees to avoid fraudulent travel agencies and book helicopter tickets only through the official IRCTC website (https://heliyatra.irctc.co.in). As Char Dham Yatra attracts thousands of pilgrims, fraud cases have started emerging, prompting stricter monitoring by officials.
