There has been a heavy snowfall on both Baltal and Pahalgam routes leading to Shri Amarnath ji shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas which has prevented the traditional trekkers from reaching to the cave shrine from Baltal track so far. However, the trekkers are expected to make another attempt to reach to the shrine in next few days. Last year, the trekkers, who comprised mostly the Gujjars well trained in scaling heights, had reached the cave shrine from Baltal route on April 20. This year too, they made an attempt yesterday but couldn’t cross Ranga Morh due to a snowslide.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the trekkers would make another attempt to reach to the cave shrine along with cameras to gather pictures on the condition of track and snowfall around the holy shrine before launching snow clearance operation on both tracks.
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The snowfall has reduced considerably as it was in the March end when Governor N N Vohra, who happened to be Chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) along with his Principal Secretary and SASB CEO R K Goyal had conducted air recee of the track and the shrine on March 26.
"The snow is melting fast. It was a snowslide which came at Ranga Morh and blocked the route when the trekkers were heading towards the cave shrine. It is a matter of few days when the trekkers would reach the cave shrine and give us a first hand information on formation of Lord Shiva’s Ice Lingam and accumulation of snowfall on the track’’, sources said, adding the snow clearance operations would be launched only after getting a detailed report from the trekkers.
It may be mentioned here that every year about two months before commencement of annual Amarnath pilgrimage, the SASB deputes well trained trekkers to the cave shrine who scale snow clad mountains and come back with photographs and videography of track and other important areas facilitating snow clearance operations.
Sources clarified that no one has visited the cave shrine so far. "When our trekkers, who are not only well trained but also well versed with the route couldn’t reach the shrine, how the pilgrims can go to the cave’’? they asked and described media reports to this effect as baseless.
"Even after snow clearance operations are completed on both tracks, no pilgrim will be allowed to undertake yatra before the scheduled date of commencement of pilgrimage from Baltal and Pahalgam on July 1. The security personnel, who will take positions at the cave shrine and route of the two tracks, will also not be allowed to perform darshan till the yatra officially commences.
Baba Amarnath shrine will be opened for the pilgrims on due date and it would be responsibility of police and security agencies to ensure that no yatri is allowed to reach to the holy cave shrine before the prior date.
Sources were confident that the pilgrimage this year would begin on scheduled date of July 1. Last year, the yatra had started only from Baltal track on June 18, three days behind scheduled and June 27 from Pahalgam, nearly a fortnight after the due date due to delay in snow clearance operations.
"Hopefully, such a problem will not emerge this year. We will be able to clear both the tracks well before the start of the yatra’’, they said.
Meanwhile, in a significant decision in the interest of Amarnath pilgrims, the SASB has decided to hold group insurance of all pilgrims with New India Assurance Company. As per the agreement, every pilgrim will be covered for Rs 1 lakh each. The premium will be paid by the SASB. The mule owners and pithoos, who help the pilgrims reach the holy cave shrine, will also be insured for the first time.
Last year, 45 pilgrims had died during one and a half month long yatra.
Though, the Amarnath Shrine Board was yet to take a decision on registration of pilgrims, it has decided not to allow on-line registration of pilgrims this year. The yatris will have to go to the counters for registration. They, however, declined to elaborate on the Board’s decision to do away with the practice of on-line registration but, according to sources, some technical problem might have been the reason behind stoppage of on-line registrations.
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The procedure for registration has been simplified and will be unveiled soon.
The registration would begin for both routes nearly a month in advance. On spot registration will be allowed depending on the number of pilgrims registered in advance.
The SASB yesterday opened tenders for air service to the cave shrine from both Baltal and Pahalgam routes. Five air companies have applied for tenders on both routes. The SASB will take a decision on the tenders very soon taking in view the interest of pilgrims intending to fly to the shrine. However, this year, the flying pilgrims will have to either hire mules or trek five kilometers despite taking air sortie, which will land at Panchtarni, about five kilometers short of the cave.
To help the local travel agents, who were engaged in tourism promotion, the SASB has also decided to give some quota of advance air booking to them.
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The pilgrims this time might be able to enjoy mobile telephone service of a Government owned undertaking on both tracks. This will be a major boost for the yatris, who would stay in touch with their families during three to four days of yatra from Pahalgam track.
The SASB has taken a series of measures for environment protection and pollution control on scientific lines.
