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| Amarnath Pilgrimage schedule still uncertain 6 to 8 feet snow on track | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Srinagar, Jun 2: As the helicopter of the Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) B B Vyas could not land at Sheshnag, about 19 km short of the cave due to heavy snow, the commencement of this year's pilgrimage, scheduled to start from June 15, may get delayed further.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the SASB also informed that the personnel of Army, CRPF, BSF and J&K police have reached the holy cave.
The two-month-long annual pilgrimage was scheduled to start from June 7, but was postponed due to heavy snowfall on both the traditional Pahalgam and shortest Baltal tracks.
Official sources said Panchtarni, 6 km short of the cave at a height of 3,657 mtrs above sea level had six feet accumulated snow, while Sheshnag had still about eight feet snow.
They said here that Mr Vyas today visited the cave and took stock of the ongoing efforts relating to the clearance of tracks and positioning of various infrastructural and logistical facilities for the 'yatris' there.
The aerial survey conducted by the CEO and other officers of the Board indicates that the areas adjoining the holy cave, Panchtarni and Sheshnag are still under 6 to 8 feet snow. While work is going on war footing to clear the tracks, the CEO of the Board issued instructions to further step up the pace of work to ensure that all required facilities are put in place in a time-bound manner.
The Board officials could not land either at Panchtarni or Sheshnag due to the heavy accumulation of snow near the Camp sites.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer gave instructions to the engineers and senior officers of the Board for expediting all infrastructure-related works to ensure that the required facilities are in place well before the commencement of the Yatra.
He also got first hand information about various works being executed at various places, including the Camps and enroute the Shrine.
The CEO asked the Camp Commandants and other officers to prepare detailed lay-out plans for siting various facilities at the holy cave and at all the other camping sites so that various facilities can be positioned in a systematic manner. The Board team also had an aerial view of the proposed alternate helipad site, adequately away from the Sanctum Sanctorum. This is being done in furtherance of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Boards decision to locate the helipads well away from the Holy Cave.
The spokesperson of the Board also reiterated the Board's advice to the intending 'Yatris' that, keeping in view the snow and weather conditions, they must get themselves registered with the J&K Bank, as no pilgrim will be allowed to proceed on the arduous track who does not possess a Yatra Registration slip. This is being enforced to ensure that the movement of the pilgrims is regulated in a proper manner, to minimize inconvenience and hardship.
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