Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 12: Fifty major snow avalanches and 20 landslides have occurred along 22 kilometers track of Shri Amarnath Ji shrine between Chota Sheshnag to holy cave in South Kashmir Himalayas but authorities have expressed confidence they would be cleared well in time to start the annual pilgrimage well on time on July 2.
Official sources told the Excelsior that recce teams of Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA), which have just returned from holy cave of Shri Amarnath ji bringing along with them detailed videos and photographs of the 32-kilometers track right from Chandanwari to Amarnath ji cave on traditional Pahalgam route, have discovered that 50 major snow avalanches and 20 landslides have occurred along the 22 kilometers track from Chota Sheshnag to Amarnath ji cave.
However, they said, first 10 kilometers track from Chandanwari to Chota Sheshnag was completely safe even now as there was no snow or any kind of avalanche and landslide on this portion of the track.
“First 10 kilometers of the track from Chandanwari onwards were without any snow but remaining 22 kilometers of the track is snow bound. The snow on this portion of the track ranged from six feet to 10 feet,” they said, adding it was in the snow bound part of traditional track that major snow avalanches and landslides have occurred.
Men and machinery engaged by the PDA, which was responsible for maintenance of traditional Pahalgam track and generating other facilities for annual Shri Amarnath ji pilgrimage, has started snow and track clearance operations at Pissu Top and will move forward in the upcoming days.
Meanwhile, Director General of CRPF K Durga Prasad today reached Srinagar from New Delhi and held high level security review of overall situation including Amarnath ji yatra arrangements with DGP K Rajendra Kumar. Additional DG CRPF S N Srivastava, Special DG (Coordination) SK Mishra, ADGP Trainings (PHQ) Navin Aggarwal, Additional DG (Headquarters) VK Singh, IG Operations CRPF (Headquarters) Zulfkar Hassan and IG CRPF Atul Karwal also attended the security review meeting.
Apart from coordination among Police and CRPF, law and order situation, maintenance of peace and security, the top brass of two major forces also discussed deployment of police and CRPF for Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. Majority of deployment for the yatra comes from the two forces-CRPF and J&K Police.
The Centre sends additional forces of para-military from New Delhi for security of Amarnath ji pilgrimage on requisition of the State Government.
Rajendra told the Excelsior after the meeting that police will ensure peaceful yatra. He said all security arrangements were in place for the annual pilgrimage and JKP with other agencies would ensure safety and protection of the pilgrims.
Sources said the operational preparedness for Amarnath ji yatra, deployment of police and CRPF from Lakhanpur, the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir to holy cave shrine and coordination figured during meeting of the top officers.
Though it is an uphill task to clear such large number of snow avalanches and landslides, PDA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Riaz Ahmad Wani told the Excelsior that they would be able to clear the avalanches, landslides and snow from remaining portion of 22 kilometers track well ahead of start of the annual pilgrimage on July 2.
“Normally, we are in position to clear the track and make arrangements for deployment of security forces and all other staff at least 15 days in advance. This year, we propose to make all arrangements 20 days in advance,” the PDA CEO added.
Wani said, there were total of 37 pucca structures and 20 pre-fabricated huts from Chota Sheshnag to holy cave, which have come under the snow but there was no major damage to them. All of them would be ready for induction of the staff like Medical and other teams very shortly by clearing the snow.
He added that an Access Gate is being set up at Chandanwari to ensure that no unregistered pilgrims or ponywallahs managed to cross that point during the yatra.
This year’s annual pilgrimage to Shri Amarnath ji shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas is starting on July 2 and will conclude on August 18 coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
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