Kounsar Nag Yatra arrangements reviewed

Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, July 16: The arrangements for the smooth conduct of six-day Annual Kounsar Nag Yatra at tehsil Mahore in Reasi district, commencing from July 28 were discussed at a meeting of officers held under the chairmanship of Additional District Development Commissioner, Reasi, Rajinder Singh Tara here today.
Threadbare discussions were held on various arrangements, including medicare, transportation, boarding and lodging, provision of adequate ration, security, and uninterrupted power and water supply, to be made for the convenience of the devotees.
It was decided in the meeting that adequate arrangements of medicare facilities would be put in place for the convenience of the yatries. For the purpose six teams of doctors and paramedics would be stationed at specified locations with adequate stock of medicines and oxygen cylinders.
The Army would provide sufficient tents for the comfortable stay of the pilgrims at village Harshu, the base camp of the yatra.
Addressing the meeting, the ADDC said that efforts would be made to promote the Kounsar Nag as tourist destination.
For the purpose, he asked the officers of Tourism Department to chalk out a comprehensive strategy to popularize the spot by erecting hoarding at prominent locations, so that pilgrims after visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, could be diverted to such locations for tourism promotion in the district.
The pilgrims after stay at base camp of the Yatra at Village Harshu in Mahore, would proceed for Kounsar Nag and pay obedience at the holy day of Nag Panchami on July 30.
The yatra would cover different areas of the Reasi district including Salal, Arnas, Dharmari, Mahore, Chasana and Sungri to reach Kounsar Nag.
Among others, DFO Mahore, ARTO, President Kounsar Nag Yatra Samiti, Thakan Das Sharma and officers of PHE, PWD, PDD, Tourism, CA&PD, Doordarshan, All India Radio and representative of Himalayan Helicopter services attended the meeting.