Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 4: Authorities today decided to open 18 lodgment centres for Shri Amarnath ji pilgrims within the City limits, which would have a capacity of accommodation 8000 plus pilgrims at any given time. They have also decided to deploy Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs), para-military forces and local police at all the lodgment centres for protection of the pilgrims.
Official sources told the Excelsior that out of 18 lodgment centres, 14 fall in City North and four in City South.
“Clubbed together, 18 lodgment centres would have the capacity to accommodate 8000 pilgrims on any time. The maximum number of 1600 plus yatris would be accommodated at Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas,’’ they said.
All these lodgment centres would be declared as “pilgrim centres’’ much before start of the yatra and would remain at the disposal of administration and the yatris for 55 days long annual pilgrimage starting June 28. The yatra would culminate on August 21 on the occasion of Sharavan Purnima..
Sources said all 18 lodgment centres have been declared as security zones. Deployment of security i.e. the QRTs, para-military forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police at all 18 centres would start at least a week in advance, they added.
Incharge SSP Jammu Rajeshwar Singh confirmed that all security arrangements at the lodgment centres and other places in Jammu for Amarnath ji pilgrims have been finalised.
“Security arrangements have been discussed and approved. They will be in place a week ahead of the yatra. All lodgment centres would be sanitized before letting the first batch of pilgrims in. We would be opening 24X7 two reception centres at Kunjwani and Jammu Railway Station to guide the pilgrims to lodgment centres,’’ Mr Singh said.
Sources said the authorities have decided not to allow any pilgrims to leave Bhagwati Nagar base camp for the Shri Amarnath cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas without registration including Compulsory Health Certificate (CHC), which have been made mandatory by Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB). Even Sadhus would have to register themselves and procure the CHC before proceeding to the pilgrimage, they added.
The Sadhus would be accommodated at Geeta Bhawan.
“There would be no compromise with registration and CHC. No pilgrim would be allowed to leave Bhagwati Nagar base camp or any other lodgment centres for base camps of Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam) without ‘Yatra Permit’ including the CHC,’’ sources said, adding this condition would be explained to the pilgrims at Kunjwani and Jammu Railway Station reception centres being set up by the administration.
Sources said authorities would not allow more than 15,000 pilgrims to leave Jammu on one day.
The SASB has announced that only 15,000 pilgrims (7500 each on Baltal and Nunwan tracks) would be allowed for the yatra a day.
Authorities would distribute pamphlets carrying do’s and don’ts at Kunjwani and Jammu Railway Centres among the pilgrims to prepare them ahead of the yatra.
Follow our WhatsApp channel