First batch to be flagged off today, tracks through
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, June 29: The first batch of Shri Amarnath Ji yatra will be flagged off under tight security arrangements by Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha who is also the Chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) from here tomorrow who also visited Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas this evening to take stock of arrangements there.
The Lt Governor during his visit to Yatri Niwas took stock of food and lodging of the pilgrims, security, functioning of Joint Control Room, langer stalls, registration counters, power and water supply, health facilities, sanitation, transportation, deployment of health and sanitation staff, installation of mobile toilets, fire tenders and emergency services.
Sinha directed the officials to increase the manpower for health, sanitation and other essential services. He welcomed pilgrims from across the country who have arrived at Yatri Niwas for Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage. During the interaction, he also enquired about the facilities.
Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu informed the Lt Governor that the holding capacity of pilgrims at Samba and Kathua has been increased from the last year and additional buses have been stationed at the key locations of pilgrimage.
Mukesh Singh, ADGP Jammu; Avny Lavasa, Deputy Commissioner Jammu; Rahul Yadav, Commissioner, JMC and senior officials from civil administration, police and security forces accompanied the Lt Governor.
During the flagging off the first batch of yatra to holy cave situated at a height of 3880 metres above sea level in South Kashmir district of Anantnag tomorrow, the Lt Governor will be accompanied by senior officers of civil administration, police and CRPF. The authorities have made elaborate arrangements for this year’s yatra right from Lakhanpur, the gateway J&K to holy cave.
Official sources told Excelsior that all arrangements are in place for flagging off the first batch of yatra tomorrow to base camps of Nunwan -Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district where from they will proceed for holy cave early morning of July 1. This will mark the beginning of 62 day -long holy Amarnath Ji yatra for the year 2023 which will culminate on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) falling on August 31.
As the first batch of yatra leaves from here early tomorrow morning hundreds of pilgrims have reached Jammu to leave for holy cave in the first batch. The yatris were seen in long queues at Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas entry gate. The tight security arrangements have been made at Yatri Niwas and right from Lakhanpur to holy cave for the yatris.
As per sources, over 2000 pilgrims are camping at Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas and other places in the city while the influx of yatris from other parts was still continuing late in the evening. The city administration also started on spot process of registration for devotees arriving here from other parts of the country today.
Besides, the registration of unregistered pilgrims a registration counter for Sadhus has been opened at Purani Mandi Ram temple while free Langars for them have also been opened at Purani Mandi temple and Geeta Bhawan Jammu.
Meanwhile, the arrangements on both tracks to the holy cave are in place. In view of last year floods near holy cave and its consequences, the Shrine Board has decided to decongest the holy cave area by not installing camps there this time.
According to official sources, the 16 km long Baltal to holy cave track is through as the snow has been cleared on the track both for ponies as well as yatris movement. Out of 16 km long track, 7 kms has been upgraded and widened more than 12 feet while work on remaining portion is going on war footing basis.
Sources said snow clearance and widening of 32 km long Pahalgam-Chandanwari track has also been done. There was a heavy 10 to 15 feet snow at various places on this track. However, the snow clearance was done on war footing and the track will be ready before the July 1, sources added.
Sources said among the other arrangements over 70 percent of tents in Baltal and Nunwan have been installed while on the other camps work is going on. Tents installation was delayed at Sheshnag, Poshpathri and Margan Top as these places were covered with heavy snow. However, tents have been installed at Panchtarni and Barai Marg which are almost clear of snow.
Sources said that Army, BSF and CRPF and other security forces have also established tents at different places on both tracks right from Pahalgam and Baltal.
For the safety of passengers, the SASB has made the Radio Frequency Identity Cards (RFID) mandatory this year for pilgrims as well as pony wallas, laborers, Langar people and Sewadars which will be issued at base camp and other spots on the tracks. The initiative in this regard was started last year but from this year it has been made compulsory, sources added.
Sources said that RFID cards issuing counters have been opened at 10 places in the UT of J&K. In Kashmir Valley these counters have been opened at Baltal Base Camp, Panta Chowk Srinagar, Srinagar International Airport and Nunwan Base Camp in Pahalgam of Anantnag district.
In Jammu, these camps have been opened at Yatri Niwas Bhagwati Nagar, Mahajan Hall, Shalamar road, Geeta Bhawan, Jammu, Railway Station, Jammu, Vaishno Dham near Railway Station, Jammu and Panchayat Bhawan in Trikuta Nagar.
Sources said four commercial helipads have been established at Pahalgam while in addition to this seven emergency helipads for landing have been established on this track. Among them, one will be at Chandanwari, another at Zojibal, three at Sheshnag, one Panchtarni and one at Kelnar.
On Baltal axis, 13 commercial helipads have been established. Among them, eight are at Neelgrat and five at Panchtarni. Besides, 20 emergency helipads have been established and among them five are at Baltal, one at Brarimarg, one at Sangam Dam, four at Sangam Top, four at Lower cave, two at Panchtarni and three at Holy cave.
Moreover, from this year the prepaid booking of pithoos and ponies has been started to avert overcharging of pilgrims, sources said, adding the process for insurance of ponies’ and pithoos has also started. For Ponies National Live Stock Mission in collaboration with SASB are bearing the amount of premium.
Besides, to avert the flood threat and any untoward incident this year an extensive clearance, widening and deepening flood channel is being done on war footing which was affected by floods last year and resulted in casualties, sources said.
The deployment of NDRF and SDRF besides, Mountaineering Rescue team of J&K Police has been made for relief and rescue operation in case of any natural calamity, sources said, adding in view of last year’s disaster reinforcement has been made in adequate numbers this time.
The Medical teams have been deployed by Health and Medical Education Department. Base Hospitals have been established at 15 places from Pahalgam Nunwan track while from Baltal side Base hospitals have been established at 14 places. Hundred bedded base hospital has been setup at Nunwan while DRDO has established another Base Hospital at Chandanwar and another Base Hospital has been established at Sheshnag. In addition to this medical aid centers, emergency aid centers and Oxygen booths have been established at different places.
From Baltal side hundred bedded base hospital has been set up at Baltal Base Camp, Holy Cave, Panchtarni besides medical aid centers, Oxygen booth centers, emergency Aid Centers have also been established at different 16 locations, sources said.
Sources said 1790 officials including specialists, medical officers and para medicos in these base hospitals and medical aid centers. They will work round the clock in four shifts.
Sources said 129 Langars will be established from both the tracks and out of them 41 Langars will be established from Neelgrat to Dumel. Two langars will be established on Sangam and 12 at holy cave. From Pahalgam axis 59 langars will be established. Out of them 11 will be at Nunwan.
Sources said to maintain proper sanitation along both tracks holy cave and base camps SASB will install 5102 toilets and bathrooms. Eighty five percent of them have been installed while work on remaining is on. Last year 4031 toilets and bathrooms were installed in entire yatra area.
Rajinder Gupta, president Shri Amarnath Barfani Langar Organisation (SABLO) said that maximum Langars have been established while work on remaining is going on.
He, while saying that there is lot of snow at holy cave and Mahagunas Top expressed the hope that it will be cleared by the July 1 when the Yatra will start. Stressing more cooperation and coordination of SASB with SABLO, Gupta said his organization’s main objective is to supplement the task of SASB.
He said SABLO is doing selfless service to yatris and the authorities need to behave properly with the Langar organizations and Sewadars.
General secretary, SABLO, H K Chugh expressed resentment against the police verification system adopted for Sewadars and reiterated his demand that the same be got done by Government itself through its own agencies. This demand was concede by then DGP J&K, K Rajendra in 2016 but later again the earlier procedure was followed putting Sewadars and SABLO to grave problems, he added.
Vijay Mehra, finance secretary, SABLO said police verification for Sewadars is a complicated and lengthy process and till date it has not been done. The Government should get it done through NCRB, he added.
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