LG reviews SASB Control Room Operations
*Robust, dynamic security grid in place for yatra: Army
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 1: As the 62 -day long holy Amarnath Ji yatra started from twin tracks of Baltal and Nunwan-Pahalgam early this morning, 7959 pilgrism performed darshan of naturally formed Ice Lingam in the cave shrine situated at height of 3880 meters in deep Himalayas of South Kashmir till 1900 hours today, while Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha who is also the Chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) chaired a review meeting on Control Room operations set up at Raj Bhawan for the yatra.
The Lt Governor reviewed the queue management, deployment of security personnel, women constables, operation of langers and security forces at lower holy cave, installation of railings and heli services with the officers of control room and appreciated the exemplary work done by the team.
The Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board’s (SASB) Control Room is working 24×7 and coordinating with various stakeholders on the ground to ensure hassle-free pilgrimage.
“A big push has been made to improve the facilities for pilgrims and to provide best of comfort to make the spiritual journey a pleasurable experience,” the Lt Governor said.
Dr Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, CEO, Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, Rahul Singh, Additional CEO, SASB and other senior officers were present during the meeting.
Officials said a second batch of more than 4,400 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here, today in a secured convoy for holy cave and 7959 pilgrims performed darshan of naturally formed Ice Shiv Lingam on the first day of pilgrimage at cave shrine up to 1900 hours today.
They included 6220 male, 1449 female, 198 children, 91 Sadhus and one Sadhvi, officials said, adding the yatra was started from twin base camps of Nunwan and Baltal early this morning towards holy cave.
Nodal Officer SASB, Piyush Singla told reporters at Nunwan that the first batch of pilgrims was flagged off from both tracks early this morning. He said all arrangements and facilities of boarding and lodging are in place along the tracks and pilgrims are in high spirits.
He said the Mountain Rescue teams have been put in service on both tracks to deal with any eventuality. The pilgrims were given warm welcome by the people and the officials of Development Authorities of Pahalgam and Sonamarg at Baltal and Pahalgam.
The officers while welcoming the yatris at Betab Valley, Pahalgam said that people are waiting for this yatra throughout the year. The service providers have made all arrangements for them. “For us it is a pilgrimage tourism and we want to promote this yatra to boost the pilgrimage tourism in the UT,” the official said.
He said our endeavour is that they leave this place after performing darshan at holy cave happily.
Meanwhile, pilgrims embarking on yatra via Chandanwari track were all praise for the Shrine Board and administration for the arrangements.
Savita, a first time pilgrim said she feels good as all arrangements have been made for the betterment of pilgrims. She said that she is coming for darshan first time and intends to come every time in future too. Rajni another pilgrim said that she hopes that the yatra will be good. She does not desire anything except the darshan of Bhole Baba.
A woman devotee was injured after meeting with an accident while en route to holy cave at Baltal. Officials said that the accident took place after the lady devotee fell down from Palki resulting in grave injuries to her. She was immediately shifted to Sangam Base Camp for the treatment by SDRF and QRT teams. The injured lady has been identified as Laxmi Y Vaity (43) , a resident of Worli Koliwada, Mumbai. The lady would be shifted via chopper for specialised treatment to another health facility, officials said.
Meanwhile, 4400 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas this morning in a cavalcade of 188 vehicles. With this, the number of pilgrims who left for the Amarnath cave shrine from the Jammu base camp has reached 7,904, officials said.
Officials said 2,733 devotees left in 94 vehicles for Pahalgam around 4.50 am, while 1,683 pilgrims left in a fleet of 92 vehicles for the Baltal base camp nearly an hour earlier.
It may be recalled that Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of pilgrims for the annual Amarnath Yatra from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp on Friday.
The 62-day-long pilgrimage commenced from Kashmir on Saturday on the twin tracks – the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in the Anantnag district and the shorter but steep 14-km-long Baltal route in the Ganderbal district.
“We are very happy to start for Amarnath. I have always longed to see the ‘ice lingam’ of Lord Shiva,” 62-year-old Surinder Joshi from Rajasthan said. Joshi is undertaking the pilgrimage along with his wife Kusum.
A multi-tier security setup has been activated in and around the Bhagwati Nagar base camp for the annual pilgrimage.
Thirty-three accommodation centres have been set up across Jammu and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are being issued to the pilgrims.
Five counters have been set up for the registration of pilgrims who intend to undertake the yatra.
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So far, more than 3.5 lakh people have registered themselves online for the pilgrimage.
A robust and dynamic security grid complete with the deployment of snipers, anti-drone systems, bomb disposal and dog squads has been put in place to ensure a safe and secure Amarnath Yatra, the army said today.
The yatra began from the twin routes of Baltal and Pahalgam. Baltal is in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district and Pahalgam in Anantnag district in South.
“The Indian Army has traditionally been involved in ensuring safe and secure yatra for the pilgrims. This year too, the army has worked with all other stakeholders to put in place a robust and dynamic security grid for the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra,” the army’s 3 Sector Rashtriya Rifles commander Brigadier Atul Rajput told reporters at Baltal.
He said the army has ensured multi-tier security arrangements that include domination of the mountains, sanitisation of the yatra route and round-the-clock domination of the area using the latest night vision devices.
The army’s Special Forces are keeping a watch over the yatra route from vantage locations, he said. “We have also deployed snipers, anti-drone systems, bomb disposal and dog squads to ensure safe and secure Yatra,” the commander said.
The army has augmented a number of yatri camps with adequate tentage facilities to provide additional habitat during, Brigadier Rajput said.
“We have also made available helipads at multiple locations for medical emergencies and to cater to other airlift requirements for the yatra,” he added.
A whole-of-the-nation approach has been followed to synergise efforts, and the army has offered its expertise in mountain rescue to civil agencies and trained Mountain Rescue and Avalanche Rescue teams of various agencies, he said.
“In addition, we have conducted joint exercises and mock drills to ensure seamless and successful rescue operations, if and when required,” the Army officer said.
He said based on the experiences of the cloudburst during the yatra last year, rescue teams and earth-movers are being placed at the Holy cave and multiple locations enroute for any emergencies.
Modern equipment are also available for effective response and meet any contingencies, he added.
“We assure you that till the time last yatri is back from his pious visit to Shri Amarnath, we, the Indian Army, is here to ensure your security, safety and well being always and every time, Brigadier Rajput said.
Addressing presser at Pahalgam base camp, Commander 1 sector RR, Amandeep Malhi said that additional facilities have been ensured this year for the smooth and peaceful Amarnath pilgrimage.
“We have used quad copters and nigh vision devices for 24×7 surveillance enroute cave shrine. Apart from the army, Central forces and police have been deployed on higher reaches. Every soldier has been briefed to ensure least inconvenience to locals during the Yatra period,” he said. He said Mountain and Avalanche rescue teams have been deployed to meet any eventuality. “This year, quick and effective response teams will ensure fast evacuation in case of any natural calamity,” he said, adding that this year army along with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), NDRF and SRDRF conducted joint drills to ensure “timely response in case of any natural calamity.”
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