Preparations for yatra underway on war footing
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, May 22: The preparations are underway on war footing for the annual Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage starting from July 3 from twin tracks of Baltal in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir and Chandanwari in Anantnag district of South Kashmir.
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The officials of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) which is running the annual yatra and the line Departments assisting it in the smooth conduct of pilgrimage are on the job of track clearance and providing other facilities to pilgrims during the yatra.
According to SASB sources, till date over four lakh pilgrims across the country have been enrolled for this year’s pilgrimage to holy cave situated at an altitude of 3880 metres in deep Himalayas of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Sources said three-tier security will be made for the pilgrims and 20,000 security personnel including that of Army, ITBP, CRPF and J&K Police will be deployed for fool-proof security arrangements of pilgrims on twin tracks and yatra camps.
Sources said about five kilometre over 12 feet wide bypass road from Chandanwari to Pissu Top is ready and it will be opened for pilgrims this year. Moreover, snow clearance has been done up to Zojibal on Chandanwari track and the snow clearance up to Sheshnag will be completed within three days.
Sources said, however, there is five feet to 10 feet snow from Sheshnag to Maha Ganesh (MG) Top which will take over a fortnight. The work on snow clearance from Panchtarni to holy cave is also on while on the Baltal track the snow and landslides have been cleared from Baltal to Kali Mata. However, work on snow and track clearance from onwards this area is going on.
Sources said the establishment of camps at various locations including Baltal, Neelgrath Domail, Brari Marg, Sangam, Lower Cave and Holy Cave via Baltal side and Nunwan (Nandiwan), Chandanwari, Pissu Top, Zojibal, Sheshnag, Poshpathri and Panchtarni from Pahalgam side is underway.
Moreover, they said, the work on two new Yatri Bhawans at base camps of Baltal and Nunwan is also underway. Besides, the two more storeys of Yatri Niwas at Panthachowk in Srinagar will also be inaugurated this year and thrown open for pilgrims. Out of six storeys of Yatri Niwas at Panthachowk three storeys were opened for pilgrims last year while work on other two storeys was going on and they will be utilised from this year. About 1000 pilgrims can be accommodated at the Panthachowk Yatri Niwas during peak time sources added.
They said at Baltal the newly constructed Yatri Niwas having three blocks and newly constructed Yatri Niwas at Nunwan having five blocks will be partly utilised for this year’s pilgrimage. Moreover, the construction of Yatri Niwas at Bijbehara which has two blocks is also underway and work on Sidhra Jammu Yatri Niwas is going on. Besides, there are arrangements of camping over 4000 pilgrims at Ramban Yatri Niwas during Highway blockade.
Sources said two hundred bedded hospitals with all medical facilities one each at Chandanwari and Baltal Yatra camps will be opened for pilgrims. The work on these hospitals was completed last year and they will be fully utilised this year. In addition to doctors deputed by Directorate J&K Health Services, the services of specialised doctors from all major hospitals of the country will also be utilised to provide medical assistance to pilgrims, sources added.
Sources said the sister departments like PDD, Jal Shakti , Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Information Department etc have been asked to provide amenities like water, electricity, ration etc for yatris. In addition, the services of SDRF and NDRF are being utilised to provide assistance during disasters like floods and landslides.
The registration of Pony and Pithos has also been started by Labour Department, sources said, adding Rural Development Department has been tasked to make foolproof sanitation services at all the yatra camps and on both the yatra tracks. Over 5000 toilets will be arranged for this year’s pilgrimage and services of over 2000 sanitary workers will also be utilised, sources added.
The choppers will fly from Srinagar to Pahalgam and Pahalgam to Panchtarni on Chandanwari track and on Baltal area they will operate from Srinagar to Neelgrath Baltal and then Baltal to Panchtarni. The booking for Chopper services will start from June onwards, sources added.
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