 Early Times Report
Jammu, June 29: Amarnath pilgrims outside Saraswati Dham near Jammu Railway Station on Saturday alleged that the arrangements for them are not upto the mark.
A group of pilgrims while talking to Early Times said, “We are dismayed over the management of facilities and restrictions imposed on us.”
They said that “erratic issuance” of registration tokens, with only 1200 to 1300 tokens being issued per day, is leading to long queues and delays. This has exacerbated the frustration among pilgrims, many of whom have traveled long distances to participate in the yatra.
Adding to the woes, essential commodities such as water have become a point of contention, with reports emerging that water bottles are being sold at inflated prices of Rs 30 per bottle.
This has sparked outrage among pilgrims who argue that such practices exploit their vulnerability during the pilgrimage.
F ‘Water bottle costs Rs 30, we are being made to wait in long queues for registration tokens’
Comparing this year’s arrangements unfavorably to those of previous years, pilgrims criticized the current management for poor planning and inadequate provision of basic facilities.
“Last time arrangements were fine, this time arrangements are poor,” remarked one disillusioned pilgrim, highlighting the stark contrast in their pilgrimage experience.
Financial constraints have also surfaced as a significant issue, with pilgrims expressing concerns about the high costs of accommodations. “We have no money to stay in hotels,” shared one pilgrim, underscoring the financial burden exacerbated by the challenging conditions they are facing. | 