Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 23: Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) chairman and Governor NN Vohra would have an aerial survey of Chandanwari-Sheshnag track on June 25 before taking a final call on whether yatra to holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnath ji would start on scheduled date of June 28 from Pahalgam track while the Board has declared shorter Baltal track fit for start of Shri Amarnath ji yatra on due date.
An official handout issued by the Raj Bhawan said Vohra was briefed on position of twin tracks-Baltal and Chandanwari by SASB CEO RK Gupta today after he returned from undertaking detailed on ground assessment of both the tracks on June 21 and 22.
Gupta briefed the Governor that track of Baltal-Bhawan was largely clear though final stretch of about one kilometer up to the shrine is still fully covered with snow. Like the previous years, the final one kilometer stretch of the track would have to be covered by the devotees of Shri Amarnath ji by trekking on frozen snow path.
The CEO SASB told the Governor that it would be possible to commence the yatra along Baltal track on scheduled date on June 28.
However, as far as Pahalgam-Chandanwari-Amarnath ji Bhawan track was concerned, Gupta informed the SASB Chairman that track between Sheshnag-Wavbal-Mahagunus Top-Poshpatri-Panjtarni is still covered with heavy snow.
“The snow level particularly between Poshpatri-Mahagunus Top and Wavbal is between six to eight feet. The staff of Pahalgam Development Authority is working on this stretch in double shift to clear snow and restore track for the yatra. In this stretch, the Yatris would have to walk on a snow track as it was not expected to be free of snow before June 28,” the handout said.
Gupta informed the Governor that the CEO of Pahalgam Development Authority along with several officials of Anantnag district would review yatra related arrangements including track restorations works and try to ensure that they were fully completed in next five days.
The handout said on the basis of the report of the SASB CEO, the Governor decided that he along with the CEO would visit holy cave, Panjtarni and Sheshnag camps on June 25 by air to take a call whether the yatra on Chandanwari track would commence on June 28 without any risk.
The Governor would also visit the base camps at Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam) to review all preparatory arrangements during his day long tour to the yatra area on June 25.
Official sources said the Shrine Board would open Chandanwari track only if it was found safe for the yatris till June 28 when annual Amarnath yatra is scheduled to start. Otherwise, the SASB could start yatra from Baltal track on June 28 and wait for clearance of snow on Chandanwari track before starting yatra on the traditional route, sources said, adding that a final decision on Chandanwari route would be taken by the Governor himself after aerial survey and visit on Chandanwari track on June 25.
The annual pilgrimage is scheduled to start from Jammu on June 27.
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