Srinagar: In a review meeting held here Monday Umang Narula, CEO, and Bhupinder Kumar, Addl. CEO of the Shrine Board, informed Governor N.N Vohra, Chairman of the Board, that on the 12th day of the ongoing Yatra, 9,606 pilgrims paid obeisance at Holy Cave and till date, 1,04,018 pilgrims had performed Darshan at the Holy Cave. CEO further informed that during the initial eleven days since the start of the Yatra, the movement of pilgrims from Jammu to Kashmir Valley was suspended on three occasions due to rains and slippery track conditions on both the Yatra routes and landslides and shooting stones between Railpathri and Brarimarg which resulted in accumulation of a large number of Yatris at Baltal and Nunwan Base Camps. On one occasion, the movement of Yatris was stopped from Jammu to the Base Camp of Baltal and Nunwan because of security concerns.
Governor was further informed that keeping in view the safety of the Yatris,Amarnathji Yatra remained totally suspended on three occasions i.e. 30thJune, 4thJuly, and 5th July from both Baltal as well as Pahalgam routes and remained suspended twice from Baltal route on 29th June, and 6th July because of landslides, slippery tracks and shooting stones caused by incessant rainfall.
It is relevant to observe that CEO and the Additional CEO have been interacting daily with the officials of all the agencies engaged in the conduct of Yatra and particularly inquiring about the arrangements at the Shrine and at all the Yatra camps. CEO further informed that 9 MRTs deployed on various stretches of the track are playing a crucial role in assisting the safe movement of Yatris in the vulnerable landslide and falling stone areas, particularly between Brarimarg and Railpathri. CEO informed that SMS messages to the registered Yatris are being sent to make them aware about the arduous nature of Yatra and, from Monday, a message in Hindi has also been forwarded to the Yatris cautioning them to be careful of shooting stones while moving on the Track through Bulk SMSs.
