Excelsior Correspondent
KISHTWAR, July 30: The 40 days Annual Shree Machail Mata Yatra is going on full swing with the devotees continuously visiting here to pay obeisance at Shrine in spite of heavy rains in the district.
This year the Yatra has been resumed after about 2 years of ban due to COVID 19 pandemic and is expecting a heavy rush of pilgrims. The Yatra started with the ceremonial Pratham Pooja performed by Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar (IAS) and Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar Ashok Sharma in presence of priests and scores of devotees on July 25.
Elaborate security arrangements and other amenities have been placed en-route by Police and Civil administration Kishtwar to ensure the smooth and hassle free conduct of the Yatra and sufficient police personnel and medical teams were deployed for the same journey of the pilgrims.
The health department is providing necessary health care facilities along with staff of the Ayush, while nearly 19 Medicare Health Booths have been made functional by the PHCs and SCs in the en-route of the Shrine, besides the local administration has been entrusted with the work to ensure the sanitation and hygiene in and around the langar places being provided by devotees.
Moreover, a comprehensive traffic management plan has been chalked out to implement the fool proof transport facilities to the devotees. The devotees who are not willing to travel by foot to the shrine have been facilitated, while a paid ‘Chopper’ facilities also from Gulab Garh Paddar to Shrine is available and in this regards, the booking centres have been established at Jammu, Udhampur, Kishtwar and even Gulab Garh.
The 54th Engineering Regiment, 17 RR, 118 RCC and Companies of NHIDCL have launched a 170 feet long ‘Bailey Bridge’ at Kundail which has been completed in record time and has been thrown open for devotees yesterday under the supervision of District Administration Kishtwar.
Besides, the District administration seems to appeal to the devotees to follow Covid appropriate behaviour besides follow the suit to protect the serenity of nature and sanctity of the Shrine during the Yatra.
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