Over 3.5 lakh register for Amarnath pilgrimage, snow clearance in full swing

For first time, sound & light show being started for yatris

Avtar Bhat

JAMMU, May 19: Over 3.5 lakh yatris have been registered for this year’s annual Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage since the registration started on 550 designated bank branches on April 15 this year.

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The 57 days long annual yatra will start on July 3 from twin tracks of Baltal-Sonamarg and Nunwan-Pahalgam and will culminate on August 28 the day coinciding with Hindu festivals Sawan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.

Besides, the Punjab National Bank (PNB), the registration of Yatris is being done by the designated branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, State Bank of India and Yes Bank all over India.

For the first time this year a sound and light show is being held at Yatri Niwas Pantha Chowk, Srinagar by Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB). The show will be run on daily basis during the entire yatra period. Besides, the tracks and yatra related activities, the Bhajan and Kirtan etc will be the highlights of the show.

Meanwhile, the snow clearance work and track restoration is going in full swing from both the tracks by the SASB. While over nine kms track has been cleared of snow on Baltal track about eight kilometers track has been cleaned via Nunwan (Nandiwan) Pahalgam.

Sources said at normal places there is about eight feet snow while at avalanche prone areas the depth of snow on the tracks is over 10 feet.

Sources said via Nunwan side the track has been cleared of snow up to Maha Ganesh Top and via Baltal it has been cleared about Kali Mata top while restoration of 12 feet wide track is in full swing from both the sides. Sources said the work is on for surfacing of track in the area where snow has been cleared. Besides, construction of retaining walls breast walls and culverts is also going on to make hassle free yatra.

Officials are confident that both tracks will be restored fully by June 15 and all other arrangements pertaining the yatra will also be in place by that time.

Sources said the tendering of the logistic works for establishment of camps has been also been taken up and PWD, PHE, Flood Control and other allied departments have started their works for facilitation of yatra. The respective district administrations have also geared up and security agencies have started up rounds for secured and smooth yatra this year.

Sources said new Yatri Bhawans at Nunwan (Nandiwan) in Pahalgam, Baltal, Sonamarg and Bijebehara in Anantnag district will be utilised for accommodation of pilgrims from this year.

Sources said Rs 90 crore Yatri Niwas at Bijebehara and Nunwan both in Anantnag district will accommodate 1000 pilgrims each. While the Bijbehara Yatri Niwas is of four storeys, the building at Nunwan Pahalgam comprised of five blocks with three blocks having rooms and two blocks having dormitories with a total capacity of sheltering 1000 pilgrims.

The Yatri Niwas at Baltal Sonamarg which has been constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 80 crore has the capacity of accommodating 800 pilgrims. It is consisting of Ground floor and Mezzanine. These all three yatra Niwas complexes will be utilised for accommodation of pilgrims from this year’s pilgrimage, sources added.

They said that no camps will be established near vulnerable places prone to cloud bursts and floods in view of the previous catastrophes and the instructions in this regard will be strictly followed. Only camps will be established at safe places on both tracks. Moreover, no yatri will be allowed to stay near holy cave after darshan to avoid the rush of pilgrims there.

All the spots vulnerable have been made out of bound for pilgrims, sources said adding this decision was taken keeping in view overall safety and security of pilgrims.

The Langar finalisation and shifting is also in process while Rural Development Department (RDD) has also issued tenders for sanitation along the Yatra tracks, base camps and near holy cave area.