Amarnath yatra Expecting huge influx, govt start preparations SFs braces up to ensure elaborate arrangements for safety of pilgrims
Expecting huge influx of pilgrims for the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra-which remained suspended for the last couple of years due to Covid Pandemic the Jammu and Kashmir has set the ball rolling for religious mega event and have started making advance preparations.
Even in 2019, the yatra was suspended a few days before the August 5 decision to abrogate the special status to Jammu & Kashmir and the bifurcation of the state into the union territories of J&K and Ladakh. That year, the administration had ordered non-local tourists and laborers to leave the Valley immediately. On all three occasions the pilgrimage was held symbolic only.
As per health experts, “With ebbing of Covid-19 across the country, increased vaccine coverage on the top of various drugs to fight the virus, the Amarnath Yatra is likely to witness influx of pilgrims in the 2022 edition. In fact the government on the other day has asked the states and UT to review the trend and lift additional curbs to allow smooth movement and facilitate economic activities in wake of improving Covid-19 with steady decline in active cases across the country”
One of India’s foremost virologist Dr. Gagandeep Kang couple of days back has said that Covid-19 is already in an endemic stage in India, and citizens will now have to live with SARS-COV-2 without being forced to face irrational measures such as lockdowns and curfews
Anticipating huge influx of pilgrims for the annual Amarnath Yatra, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole on Thursday directed all the departments to prepare and project enhanced plan by fifty percent. Pole was reviewing the preparation of concerned departments regarding forthcoming annual Shri Amarnath ji yatra.
In this regard, he also enjoined all the officers to increase the capacity of camping sites, parking places and service facilities including health, drinking water, toilet and other facilities. Emphasizing on the registration of all pony waalas, labours, the Pole directed concerned officers for hiring pony waalas from other districts to cater to the demand. The Div. Com directed PWD for widening of roads at critical junctions, culverts and reparation of damages caused by cloudbursts to physical infrastructure near holy cave during the previous year. He also directed for advance planning and coordinated synergy to cater all the requirements of Yatris, so that no shortfall shall be projected during Yatra.
Stressing on early execution of works, the Div. Com directed all the departments to start execution of work from the first week of April, as the snow fall was less during this winter and complete all the works and preparation by May 15. Moreover, Div. Com directed for establishing oxygen booths, covid testing facilities for Yatris.
Couple of days back authorities decided to increase the holding capacity at the Pantha chowk transit camp for Amarnath pilgrims to 6,000 ahead of this year’s pilgrimage. Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Aijaz Asad visited the Pantha chowk camp to review the progress of work undertaken to augment the accommodation for devotees expected to participate in the annual Shri Amarnath Yatra for this year in Jammu and Kashmir. At present the holding capacity of Pantha chowk camp is 2500 pilgrims.
Few months back LG, Manoj Sinha had laid the foundation stone of Yatri Niwas for the upcoming Amarnath pilgrimage at Majeen in outskirts of Jammu.
Few days back the agencies also discussed the security measures forthcoming Amarnath Yatra.
The meeting hosted by Rising Star Corps commander Lt Gen P N Ananthanarayanan, and DGP Dilbag Singh, was attended by Home Secretary Shaleen Kabra, Special DG, CID, R R Swain, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, all Brigade Commanders of Jammu and Samba Divisions along with IG level officers from the J&K Police, the BSF, the CRPF, and Deputy Directors from the State Intelligence Bureau and the Special Bureau.
