Uttarakhand police have filed 3 FIRs over fake Char Dham Yatra posts as of April 23, 2026. Two of those cases were registered in Rudraprayag district, where Kedarnath is located, for videos falsely claiming pilgrims were turned away and forced to wait 15 hours without access to darshan. Char Dham fake news 2026 has become a serious law enforcement concern as the yatra season peaks.

The state cybercrime unit has also identified and blocked 180 fake social media links related to Char Dham Yatra 2026. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered round-the-clock social media monitoring and directed officials to file FIRs without delay against anyone spreading misinformation about the pilgrimage.

What the Fake Char Dham Posts Claimed

The misleading content included videos showing supposedly long queues at Kedarnath, with captions claiming pilgrims were being denied entry and left without water or shelter. Other posts alleged a complete absence of police presence and chaotic crowd conditions at the shrine.

Police who investigated the content found the videos were either edited, misrepresented from past years, or entirely fabricated. None of the claims matched the ground situation at the temples, according to the Rudraprayag district administration’s formal counter-report submitted to the state government.

Government Action Against Char Dham Fake News 2026

CM Dhami’s directive asks every district police chief along the Char Dham route to depute a specific officer to monitor social media for false content. Accounts found spreading misinformation face immediate action under the IT Act and IPC provisions related to spreading false information that disturbs public order.

The Uttarakhand Special Task Force had already launched a pre-emptive anti-cybercrime operation in April ahead of the yatra season. That sweep identified fake websites, fraudulent booking portals, and deceptive WhatsApp groups, according to reporting by the Organiser.

Helicopter Booking Scams: A Separate Threat

A parallel problem involves fake helicopter booking platforms. Dehradun-based licensed operators warned pilgrims about fraudulent websites and WhatsApp groups offering discounted packages to Kedarnath and Badrinath. These platforms collect payment and then vanish or become unreachable.

The only authorised helicopter booking platform for Char Dham is irctc.co.in. Any third-party site offering Char Dham helicopter tickets at a discount should be treated as a scam. The Hello Doon Char Dham guide has the full list of verified operators and safe booking channels for the 2026 season.

Anyone who encounters a suspicious post about the Char Dham Yatra can report it to the Uttarakhand cybercrime helpline at 1930 or submit a complaint at the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal.