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| Amarnath Yatra begins today, Army engaged in track clearing | | | Early Times Report
BALTAL, JUNE 14: With just a day left for the commencement of this year’s Shri Amarnathji Yatra from Jammu via Baltal route, the Army has stepped in to augment the track clearance on critical patch from Sangam to the Holy Cave.
Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) early this morning, visited the Holy Cave and Panjtarini areas, along with senior Army and Board officers and took stock of the snow clearance work. He directed for doubling the work-force to make the track fully functional by tomorrow.
The Shrine Board officers also discussed the relocation of the helipads from the Holy Cave and inspected the proposed site at Panjtarini. The work on making the sites functional has already begun. At Panjtarini, the CEO along with the officers went round the Panchtarni Camp also and flew over the thickly snow covered track from Sheshnag to Panchtarni, parts of which are yet to fully cleared due to hurdles caused by the fresh snowfall last week.
At the Holy Cave most of the Langers have been set up while the tent-shop owners are putting up tentage for running their establishments of essential commodities and bhaint items. The Shrine Board has erected 15 huts and 85 toilets while the clearance on the entry and exit points near the Cave is in the final stages. The various service providing departments like Public Health, Power Development, Revenue, Medical etc have positioned their staff in the Cave, which will be receiving the first batch of pilgrims on 16 June from the Baltal side. The Governor, Mr N N Vohra, who is the Chairman of the Board, is likely to lead the devotees in the Pratham Puja at the sanctum sanctorum.
The Chief Executive Officer directed the Camp Director and the senior officers to ensure timely availability of all the facilities. He was given a detailed briefing on the establishment of Langers and supply of power and drinking water.
Vyas also visited the Baltal Base Camp and reviewed the arrangements with the senior officers. He gave instructions for setting up of a Check Post at Domel to record the details of the incoming pilgrims, which is imperative for regulating the pilgrimage smoothly. The Yatris would be permitted to proceed beyond this point only up to 9 a.m everyday. He emphasized the need for allowing only such of the pilgrims whose registration is complete in all respects like date and the route. Similar Check Post is being established ahead of Chandanwari on the traditional Pahalgam route, which will, however, become functional after the decision on throwing this route open for the pilgrims is taken around 22nd June.
The Chief Executive Officer was given the first hand information about the status of the track from Chandanwari to the Holy Cave which is being manned by the Pahalgam Development Authority.
The SASB is constantly monitoring the track and senior officers have been stationed at various locations to ensure smooth flow of pilgrims. Along side the track from Baltal to the Holy Cave, various facilities like Langers, medicare, ponies and pithus etc are available in adequate numbers to cater to the requirements of the Yatris. An Information Centre will also start functioning in the Base Camp by 15th June afternoon for disseminating vital information about the Yatra and the weather conditions through Public Address System. The Metrological Department is providing weather reports twice a day to the Board, as also to other agencies including the official media. These measures have been taken to keep the pilgrims abreast with the weather conditions and the status of the track.
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