Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 7: Railway Station Hotel and Lodges Association today suggested various ways and means for improvement of facilities for holy Amarnath pilgrims so that there would be less casualties enroute to holy cave.
The suggestions were made in a letter to Governor, N N Vohra who is also chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) by president of the Association Bhuvneshwar Gandotra.
The letter, while congratulating the Governor for successful conduct of the holy yatra of 2012 and improving of facilities manifold besides development of the track from both Baltal and Pahalgam side to minimize the difficulties faced by the pilgrims has however suggested that some more preventive measures to be taken to avoid the deaths in yatra area.
The letter said that acclimatization of the pilgrims is the first step in this regard, to which, no proper attention has been paid so far. It said for the acclimatization of pilgrims they should be asked that instead of proceeding straight from their respective places near sea level to Pahalgam or Baltal at 12,000 feet height to halt for one day at Jammu, one day at Patnitop, one day at Pahalgam or Baltal as the case may be. In case of bad weather or severe cold resulting in suspension of yatra the pilgrims may be diverted to Srinagar, the letter added.
For this purpose sufficient advertisements should be made so that pilgrims plan their holy yatra accordingly and reach here five days prior to their date of registration, the letter said.
Mr Gandotra in his letter said that the suggestions if implemented in letter and spirit it will help in equal distribution of benefits to all places of the State and hue and cry of discrimination besides diversion of pilgrims directly to Srinagar by vested interests shall be taken care of automatically.
He also suggested that pilgrims be given free tablets of Diamox and menthol tablets in small packets. The pilgrims be advised to avoid chanting of slogans and talk as little as possible to save energy on high altitudes such as Pissu Ghatti and Mahagunas Pass, alcohol, smoking and use of drugs should be completely banned, he added.
Besides, mobile medical teams equipped with Oxygen should be deployed specially at places where pilgrims are supposed to stay in long queues for a longer time for darshans.
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