35,000 pilgrims enrolled in last 3 days
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Apr 13: Though it remained suspended for last two years and its cancellation half way in 2019 following disturbances in Kashmir valley, Shri Amarnathji yatra 2022 is slated to start with a big bang this year.
The response of people intending to have darshan of Ice Lingam in holy cave situated at an altitude of 3888 meters above sea level in South Kashmir district of Anantnag is so tremendous that during last three days since the registration of pilgrims started on April 11 about 35,000 people got themselves enrolled for this year’s pilgrimage.
As per confirmed sources in SASB, the registration has been started both online and through 380 bank branches all over the country. For the first time this year, State Bank of India (SBI) has also been involved in registration of Amarnath pilgrims by the SASB. While SBI and Punjab National Bank (PNB) have thrown open 120 branches each for registration of pilgrims across the country, 90 branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank (J&K Bank) and 50 branches of Yes Bank have been utilised for this purpose all over India, sources added.
The SASB has also opened its dedicated office for group registration of pilgrims this year and the same will start soon, sources said. Click here to watch video
It may be recalled that during 2020 and 2021, yatra was suspended due to spread of COVID-19 pandemic while the pilgrimage was cancelled half way in 2019 after disturbances in Kashmir valley.
However, SASB is all hopeful that this year yatra will run smoothly for 43 days starting on June 30 to August 11 -the day of Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival and Board is making all out arrangements to make the pilgrimage hassle free and convenient for pilgrims coming from different parts of India and abroad.
The Pratham Pujan will be held on June 14 at Chandanwari. The chopper booking for pilgrims is yet to be started and that is in final stage of allotment, sources said ,adding that this year both the traditional track of Pahalgam -Chandanwari and shortest Baltal track will be activated for pilgrimage.
The SASB is optimistic that about six to eight lakh yatris will have pilgrimage of holy cave this year if everything goes smoothly, sources said.
The live telecast of both morning and evening Aarti will continue, sources said, adding that underground electricity cabling has been completed up to holy cave for power supply and upper and lower of holy cave will be illuminated in a grand manner.
All the allied departments engaged in making arrangements for annual pilgrimage have been given deadline to complete all preparations by June 15, sources said. The tendering process of track clearance by the Board has been started and 50 percent tendering has been done while remaining will also be done within days. This will be followed by starting of track development and snow clearance work, sources added.
They said that there is heavy snow on upper reaches enroute holy cave. The Domail on Baltal track and Sheshnag and Mahagunas top etc on Pahalgam route are fully covered with snow at present.
However, after completion of tendering process the track development and snow clearance will be taken up in hand on war footing basis, sources said, adding that PWD Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA) and Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) have also been engaged in maintenance of tracks.
For the facility and convenience of pilgrims this year for the first time, the SASB has started chopper services from Srinagar to Neelgrath and Neelgrath to holy cave from Baltal area and Srinagar to Pahalgam and then onwards to holy cave from Chandanwari track. This is an addition to old pattern, sources said.
They said that the Yatri Niwas at Chanderkot in Ramban will be ready for pilgrims soon and it will have a capacity of holding 3000 pilgrims daily, the holding capacity of pilgrims at Baltal Base Camp will be increased from 15,000 to 20,000 approximately at one point of time this year, sources added.
They said that holding capacity of pilgrims at Nunwan base camp has been increased from 4000 to 6000 including service providers and security forces while at Sheshnag it will be from 6480 to 10000. At Panchtarni last camp enroute holy cave on Chandanwari track, the holding capacity of pilgrims has been increased from existing 7500 to 11000 while at holy cave it has been increased from 3500 to 4500.
A total number of 114 langars will be set up on both tracks out of which 66 will be on Baltal track while 48 will be on Nunwan-Pahalgam route. Moreover, all the Langars enroute Lakhanpur in Jammu region to Baltal and Pahalgam in Kashmir valley will be established with the permission of SASB.
For the facility of pilgrims, 45 medical facility centers will be established on both the tracks which included five base hospitals, 12 Emergency Aid Centers, 13 Medical Aid Centers and 15 Oxygen booths. Out of five base hospitals, one each will be established at Chandanwari, Sheshnag, Panchtarni, Baltal and holy cave. The SASB is constructing a new Base Hospital at holy cave also this year, sources said.
They said 13 ambulances and four critical care ambulances will be put in service during this year’s pilgrimage and there will be around 3200 toilets and wash points on both the tracks. Out of which, 2000 will be on Baltal track and 1300 on Chandanwari route, sources added.
Sources said all the wooden bridges on Baltal track will be replaced by Steel Girder bridges and this is an improvement over old system. Moreover, four helipads will be established at Lower holy cave, sources said, adding there will be two additional helipads at Neelgrath on Baltal track and two at Base Camp in Pahalgam.
Sources said the darshan of Nandi Ji Maharaj who has been shifted from holy cave will be now held at Base Camp, Nunwan for which a befitting platform has been, raised by SASB. In addition to it rain cum rest shelters at all critical spots will be constructed at both axis Baltal and Pahalgam, sources added.
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