Faith meets vigilance Chamba ready for Manimahesh Yatra

Over 800 police and Home Guard personnel will be deployed to ensure security during the Manimahesh Yatra, officials have said.

The pilgrimage will officially commence with the “First Royal Bath” on August 16 and conclude on August 31, on the occasion of Radha Ashtami. Two days prior to the start, police battalions from across the state will be stationed at the designated points. Currently, Chamba Police and Home Guard personnel are monitoring arrangements across the yatra route.

The Manimahesh Trust and the district administration have completed the preparations, dividing the route into 13 sectors, with key points such as Kariyan, Dharwala Khadamukh, Luna to Sawanpur, Sawanpur to Patti Nala, Hadsar, Kugti Bridge, Dhancho, Sundarasi, Gaurikund, and the final stretch to Dal Lake.

Each sector will be manned by officers, staff and security personnel, with additional control rooms set up in Bharmaur and Hadsar. Superintendent of Police, Chamba, Abhishek Yadav, said that security forces from different battalions will be deployed two days before the start of the official yatra.

Pilgrims will be subject to strict security checks at entry points. Check posts have been set up at Salooni’s Langer area for pilgrims arriving from Bhaderwah in Jammu and Kashmir as well as at Khairi, Tunuhatti and Lahru, where entry will be permitted only after verification.

To handle any emergencies, 60 personnel from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, 35 from the NDRF and 36 from the SDRF will be stationed along the route. Pilgrims can contact the disaster management team via toll-free number 1077 or WhatsApp at 98166-98166 in case of emergencies.

Authorities have advised pilgrims to carry valid identification, undergo a health check before starting the yatra and avoid the pilgrimage if suffering from health issues. Pregnant women over 1.5 months and those with respiratory ailments have been advised against undertaking the journey. Pilgrims must follow the officially designated route, avoid intoxicants or non-vegetarian food and start from the Hadsar base camp only between 4 am and 5 pm.

Additional District Magistrate, Bharmaur, Kulbir Singh Rana, said that preparations are nearly complete with enhanced security and healthcare facilities being put in place as Janmashtami approaches.