• Yatra to begin from June 25
• Will ensure best arrangements to people during Yatra: Div Com
• 260 soldiers, officers, spanning seven batches completed training
Srinagar, May 27: As preparations intensify for the upcoming AmarnathYatra 2024, scheduled to commence from June 25 and continue until August 19, the Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, has assured comprehensive arrangements for pilgrims, including accommodation, health facilities, and essential supplies.
“Stress is laid on the installation of signages on both axes of SANJY and at camps to provide information to the pilgrims regarding nearby facilities, control room contact numbers, etc.,” stated Div Com Bidhuri.
Critical aspects, including fire safety measures, access control gates, establishment of transit camps, yatra registration, sanitation, disposal of solid waste, mobile toilets, drinking water facilities, and medical facilities, have been discussed with stakeholders, Bidhuri added.
This year, the 62-day annual pilgrimage to the 3,880-meter-high holy cave shrine of Amarnath in the south Kashmir Himalayas is set to commence from June 25 from the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the shorter 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal.
Recently, Inspector General of Police (IGP) V.K. Birdi, along with DIG Rajiv Pandey and SSP GanderbalSandeep Gupta-IPS, held a joint security review meeting in Ganderbal to evaluate existing strategies and enhance security measures.
“To overcome climatic challenges, the Mountaineering Rescue Team is undergoing training exercises in the rugged terrain of the Nud area in Samba district,” an official said. Comprising 1300 well-trained soldiers, the team aims to ensure the safe passage of pilgrims through challenging landscapes.
Currently, personnel from various security forces, including police, NDRF, and paramilitary units, are undergoing specialized training in the hilly terrain of Nud in Samba, he added.
Additionally, 260 soldiers and officers, spanning seven batches, have completed their training, with additional batches undergoing rigorous instruction.
In preparation for the yatra, 230 doctors across all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir have been tasked with issuing Compulsory Health Certificates (CHCs).
Among them, 76 doctors will serve in the Kashmir division and 162 in the Jammu division. These certificates will be issued at district hospitals, community medical centres, including health centres, NTPHCs, and UPHCs.
“Each pilgrim will receive a permit upon payment of Rs 150 at the bank. Group registration is also available for five or more pilgrims, with applications being issued until May 31,” officials said.
Furthermore, group registrations will be processed on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis, with a registration fee of Rs 250 per pilgrim. Aadhaar Card, Health Certificate, and other relevant documents are mandatory for group registration applications.
The administration remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all pilgrims undertaking the sacred journey to the Amarnath cave shrine.
