Rudraprayag, Sept. 13 -- As preparations for the second phase of the Kedarnath Dham Yatra pick up pace, authorities have stepped up security arrangements along the route.

SP Rudraprayag Niharika Tomar said the second phase of the yatra is now taking shape, with a steady increase in the number of devotees, and that around 14,83,000 pilgrims have visited Shri Kedarnath Dham so far.

"Keeping the second phase in mind, we are increasing the number of police personnel on duty. Police forces are being deployed at all our checkpoints, whether along the transport routes or on the Shri Kedarnath Dham and trekking routes. At the same time, our various teams-including drone, fire and SDRF teams-are also being deployed and given the necessary instru...