Advance booking for helicopter services for
Shri Amarnathji Yatra to commence from June 17
Heavy snow on Shri Amarnathji Yatra tracks,
advance Police party fails to cross Pissu Top

Srinagar, May 21 – Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, Mr. N. N. Vohra, reviewed the arrangements for the upcoming Shri Amarnathji Yatra at a high level meeting here today.

During the meeting, the Chairman, who is the Governor J&K, was informed that work on restoration of the track on both axis has already begun and preparatory work for putting in place other logistic facilities like tentage, langars, sanitation facilities, etc. is progressing at a brisk pace at both the Base Camps of the Yatra, at Nunwan and Baltal. However, the advance Police party have not been able to cross Pissu Top so far in view of heavy snow on the track to the Holy Cave. The Chairman had received an urgent report in this regard. On the Baltal route also, the labour dispatched for the repair of the track has not been able to go beyond Sangam so far. The personnel of CRPF deployed on duty at the Holy Cave are also presently camping at Baltal, not having been able to move to their designated locations.

Keeping in view the unusual level of accumulated snow and the present state of precipitation and temperature conditions in the Yatra area, the Governor, who is also the Chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), has decided to have another aerial survey of both the Pahalgam-Holy Cave and Baltal-Holy Cave axis on May 24 to make an on-spot assessment of the position with a view to assessing the feasibility of commencing this year’s Yatra to the Holy Shrine on June 7, 2009, as earlier decided and announced by the Board.

Further, while finalising the details of the helicopter services on the Baltal-Holy Cave route, the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board has asked the operators to make advance booking only from June 17, 2009 with a view to ensuring against any avoidable inconvenience being caused to the intending pilgrims on account of inclement weather conditions and any likely postponement of the date of commencement of this year’s Yatra in case the weather conditions remain abnormal.

A Spokesperson of the Board has clarified that in case the snows melt in the next few days and the Yatra can commence on the 7th June, 2009, the helicopter operators will make all required arrangements for on-spot helicopter bookings at Baltal. The Spokesperson has further advised that the intending pilgrims may keep the obtaining weather conditions in mind while finalising their travel arrangements for the Yatra.

Amarnath Yatra arrangements in Udhampur discussed

Udhampur, May 21:- To ensure comfortable stay of Amarnath Yatris during the Amarnath yatra starting from June 6 at Udhampur town and outskirts on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the District Development Commissioner (DDC), Udhampur, Mr. Ajay Khajuria convened a meeting of district officers of various departments including owners of private banquet halls, today.

Assistant Commissioner, Revenue, Udhampur, Addl. S.P. Udhampur, Assistant Commissioner (Development), ARTO, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Education Officer, Executive Engineers of PHE, PDD, prominent citizens and owners of private banquet halls attended the meeting.

Threadbare discussion on various arrangements related to the stay of pilgrims in the town and from Tikri to Patnitop like drinking water, power supply, Medicare, sanitation, construction of temporary toilets, transport, traffic regulation, security and accommodation came up under discussion in the meeting.

The meeting decided that in the event of bad weather or blockade of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway during yatra days, there was every possibility that pilgrims might have to stay at Udhampur for which the arrangements to accommodate them would be jointly made by the district administration, NGOs and banquet hall owners of the town. The meeting also identified the places of possible stay in educational institutions and private banquet halls.

The DDC after enquiring from the Banquet hall owners and Chief Education Officer regarding providing space in their halls and educational institutions directed the officers of Municipality, PHE, PDD, PWD to ensure fool-proof arrangements of sanitation, drinking water and power supply and construction of temporary toilets well in advance wherever needed. He also asked the Executive Officer Municipal Council, Udhampur to maintain cleanliness of the town besides spraying lime stone on both side of National Highway from Omara morh to TCP Domail daily. He also asked the District Police and Traffic Police to ensure security and traffic regulation during yatra days.

Prominent citizens also demanded that the quota of registration of Amarnath yatra from Udhampur be increased to 2000 instead of 600, yatra buses coming from Kathua or outside the State be allowed to enter Udhampur via Samba-Udhampur route, provision of proper sanitation, drinking water and power supply facilities at banquet halls and other places where pilgrims would stay in the event of exigency. They also urged for ration quota from CA & PD department at free langer sites in the town.

Responding to the demands, the DDC said that regarding enhancement of registration quota and deviation of yatra buses via Samba to Udhanpur, he would take up the matter with Divisional Commissioner for consideration. He also directed the Assistant Director, CA & PD Udhampur to consider the ration demand besides, asking ARTO to ensure make-shift arrangements for sending yatries to Pahalgam or vice-versa, in case of yatra bus developing some snag.
Speaking on the occasion, the DDC said that a control room is being set up in the town which would function round-the-clock for assistance of Amarnath pilgrims. The Assistant Commissioner (Revenue), Rajesh Sharma has been designated as Nodal Officer to oversee yatra arrangements while District Heads of Municipality, PHE, PWD, PDD and Education were asked to nominate Nodal Officers of their respective departments who would render emergency services by establishing inter-department coordination.