Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, June 18:To ensure the safety and security of the Amarnath pilgrims, State Government has issued Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Amarnath Yatra-2013 as per the Supreme Court guidelines and has declared entire yatra route as prone to terror strikes.
The Home Department in its order (No. 226, June 2013) has declared entire yatra route as terror prone. “Considering the security scenario, topography of the yatra area, high potential of terrorist attacks on the Yatris to create Law and Order situation throughout the State and the country, sensitive nature of the yatra, and the high publicity the yatra generates, the entire yatra area is highly prone to terrorist attacks”, the Home Department order adds.
The department has asked the police to ensure strict enforcement of Access Control Measures at Domel on Baltal route and Chandanwari on Pahalgam route to ensure that only registered Yatris having Yatra Permits for that day are allowed to cross the Access Control Gates.
The department has asked the Shir Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) to explore the possibility of installing CCTVs at Access Control Gates at Domel and Chandanwari and link these via internet with Control Rooms at Srinagar for monitoring the movement of the yatris at these gates.
The department has asked the Police and other security forces to ensure that darshans at the Holy Cave are regulated in such a manner that there is no stoppage of Yatris in front or near the Holy Cave, particularly during the VIPs visit.
The Home Department has asked the Chief Engineer, R&B, Kashmir, and Chief Executive Officer Pahalgam Development Authority to upgrade the tracks in the Yatra area in Baltal and Chandanwari routes respectively as per the decisions taken by the Sub-committee, constituted by the Supreme Court.
‘Chief Engineer, R&B, Kashmir, and CEO, PDA have been asked to provide railings along the tracks on Baltal route and Chandanwari routes, respectively, as per the decisions taken by the Sub-committee so that Yatris do not fall from edges of the tracks down the steep slopes during stampede or otherwise”, the Home Department order reads.
The Government has ordered that the Tourism Department should provide shelter sheds at regular distances along the yatra tracks where the Yatris can take shelter during times of incessant rains, snow and storms.
The Tourism Department has been asked to erect 30 concrete Dome type shelter sheds along with linked toilets at identified locations in the yatra area and security forces have been directed not to occupy these shelters as they are exclusively meant for Yatris.
Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has been directed to install Automatic Weather Stations at Chandanwari, Sheshnag, Panjtarni, Holy Cave and Baltal and also Weather Display Boards at Baltal and Chandanwari to apprise the Yatris about the impending weather.
Police have been asked to deploy five Mountain Rescue Teams (MRTs) comprising ten police personnel each in the yatra area at Sheshnag, Poshpathri, Lower Holy Cave, Sangam and Brarimarg to spot signs of landslides and alert the Joint Control Rooms.
The Government has ordered that the State Health Department should set up well equipped Medical Camps at a distance of about 2 kilometres on both the axis, in coordination with Army, CRPF, BSF, ITBP, other security forces and NGOs.
The Director, Health Services, Kashmir has been asked to ensure that sufficient quantity of medicines, and medical equipment are available in the Medical Camps throughout the Yatra period.
The PWD along with PDA have been asked to construct helipads at Brarimarg, Kelnar, and Sangam and other places on Baltal route and Pahalgam Chandanwari routes respectively for evacuating ill and injured Yatris from off camp locations. The PWD and PDA have been asked to get the forest clearance for these helipads from Forest Department.
Army has been asked to maintain adequate quantities of items required by pilgrims during inclement weather on both routes of the yatra.
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